Extortionist busted, reneges on bond

PITTSBURGH-An extortion scheme involving as victims both the management and employees of gay bars and private clubs has been broken here by police. Marvin Hollis, who also uses aliases Bill Kemp, William Johnson, and "CoCo," was arrested on April 6 and charged with burglary and receiving stolen goods, and later additional warrants were issued when more victims came forward. Later charges included theft, theft by extortion, and issuing terroristic threats.

At a preliminary hearing on the original charges scheduled for Monday, April 12, the suspect, who had been released on a $1,000 cash bond, never appeared and the additional charges were filed. He is presently listed as a fugitive on national police teletype networks on all charges, including his failure to appear at the April 12 hearing. Associates of Hollis, who asked not to be identified, spéculate that he may have fled to Cleveland because it is

known that he has close friends in

the area.

Police said the discovery of Hollis' operation has ended shakedowns of employees of several gay establishments, which according to one officer, "involved many thousands of dollars overa

period of years." Hollis at one time had a lead role in the "Lavender Lads Revue," and was well known in Pittsburgh gay bar circles It is alleged that he would demand that employees of gay bars open cash registers and give him money, which would then have to be

replaced by them out of their salaries and tips. The operation was uncovered at Pittsburgh's House of Tilden, but since then victims have come forward from other establishments. Hollis was at one time employed by the House of Tilden and its predecessor, the Transportation

Club.

Hollis is described as a black male in his early forties who looks about 35, on the heavy side, and about 5'11". Persons who have information about his present whereabouts are asked to call the Pittsburgh Police detective division at (412) 255-2877 and ask for "general investigations."

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Photo courtesy House of Tilden

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OHIO EAST GAY NEWS May 1875 Page 47