NEWPORT NEWS, Va., May 1 (UPI) -- A mother and son in Virginia were found guilty of trying to extort money from a company with a claim they found a dead mouse in a bowl of soup.
The jury in Newport News, Va., found Carla Patterson and Ricky Patterson guilty of plotting a conspiracy against Cracker Barrel, which, if it had worked, might have netted them $500,000, reports The Hampton Roads Daily Press.
The two had maintained their innocence during the 3-day trial. Each of them was convicted of one count of conspiracy to commit extortion. The jury recommended they both be sent to jail for 12 months and pay a $2,500 fine. Sentencing was scheduled for July 5.
The two had claimed they found a dead mouse in a bowl of soup at the chain's Newport News restaurant during a Mother's Day outing two years ago.
The report said tests showed the mouse wasn't cooked and didn't drown, which led Cracker Barrel officials to suspect a scam. The tests also had shown the mouse had died of a fractured skull.
