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Not-guilty plea in alleged sheik extortion scheme

LOS ANGELES (AP) — A woman accused of falsely claiming she was sexually assaulted by a Saudi sheik’s son in a scheme to extort at least $15 million has pleaded not guilty to felony charges.

City News Service reports 33-year-old Leyla Ors entered her plea Tuesday.

One of her attorneys, Joseph Cavallo, also pleaded not guilty. A third defendant, attorney Emanuel Hudson, will be arraigned July 30.

The three face charges including attempted extortion, conspiracy and obstruction of justice.

Authorities say Ors told police she was raped by 23-year-old Thamer Albalwi, son of Sheik Monsur Albalwi, one of the wealthiest men in Saudi Arabia.

Later Hudson allegedly spoke by phone with the sheik and told him that for $15 million Ors would not testify against the son.

Charges against Thamer Albalwi have been dropped.

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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