MASTIC BEACH, N.Y. — A Long Island couple has pleaded not guilty to charges they staged a kidnapping in a scheme to get money from one of their parents.
John Valsamis was ordered held on $100,000 bail and girlfriend Stephanie Benatatos was held on $25,000 bail following their arraignments Monday in Suffolk County District Court.
They are charged with attempted grand larceny and conspiracy.
Police say they made telephone calls to the woman’s parents on Sunday, claiming they were abducted by two armed men. Police later discovered that the claim was a hoax.
Benatatos was represented by a lawyer from Legal Aid, which does not comment on pending cases. A court-appointed attorney for the 24-year-old Valsamis declined comment.