Man who dressed as Elmo character in NY charged in scheme to extort $2M from Girl Scouts

NEW YORK, N.Y. – A homeless man with a history of playing an evil version of the “Sesame Street” Elmo character has been charged in New York with trying to extort $2 million from the Girl Scouts organization.

Dan Sandler pleaded not guilty Wednesday in state court in Manhattan.

Sandler is accused of threatening to publicize false information about the Girl Scouts unless he got the money. Prosecutors say he sent harassing emails and photos to a Girl Scouts employee.

Sandler was arrested last year in Times Square while wearing an Elmo costume and causing a scene that blocked traffic. He was accused of going on an anti-Semitic tirade. He pleaded guilty to disorderly conduct.

Authorities say he left New York and took his Elmo act to San Francisco, where he lived in a car.

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