By John Pacenti
A Delray Beach code enforcement officer has been fired after being charged with extortion for demanding payment from two residents if they wanted to avoid being cited for violations.
Khatoya Markia Wesley, 35, faces two counts of extortion threats and two counts of unlawful compensation, second-degree felonies punishable by up to 15 years in prison.
Wesley is accused of demanding payment from John “The Ribman” Jules, who sold barbeque ribs out of his home at 1048 Sunset Ave. Jules said he gave Wesley $1,500 in cash and $800 in food for her and her associates, according to an Oct. 3 arrest report.
Wesley is also accused of trying to shake down Yves Merzius, who police said owned UU Auto Sales at 210 SE Third Ave. “He stated Wesley came to the lot on several occasions and stated that she was going to report his business to code enforcement unless he paid her,” the report stated.
Both men had been subject to code enforcement complaints in the past. Jules faced complaints because of traffic jams in the neighborhood around his house as he sold rib plates for $20 apiece. Merzius told police that he had a shop but code enforcement shut it down and he was storing cars at the address in question.
An investigation into Wesley — who also lives in Delray Beach — started in February when a fellow code enforcement officer reported her after he spoke to a family member of the alleged victim, police said. The alleged extortion and bribery took place in October 2023, according to the report.
“If nothing sent tonight it ain't nothing ima be able to do to help bro 'cause I gotta pay somebody else,” Wesley allegedly said in a text message to Jules on one occasion. Police said she followed it up with a text message that said, “They sending fire department and everything tonight if the event paperwork not shown.”
Text messages between Wesley and Merzius were recovered but they did not have any payment information, according to the arrest report.
Wesley was released from Palm Beach County Jail on Oct 4. after posting a $10,000 bond. She was fired from her position Oct. 7 for accepting money, willful misconduct and conduct unbecoming a city employee, according to a memo written by City Manager Terrence Moore.
The phone number listed on the police report for Wesley was disconnected on Oct. 8. Moore’s office did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
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