Sam Ercan fronts court over standover tactics using a gun

A gun-wielding thug who claimed to be a Hells Angel told a Shepparton accountant he knew where his children lived in a $500,000 extortion attempt.

Sam Ercan put a gun to Shepparton accountant Steve Di Petta’s head and demanded $500,000 within a week.

An armed thug who claimed to be a Hells Angel tried to extort $500,000 from a Shepparton accountant by barging into his office at night and putting a gun to his head.

Sam Ercan denied any involvement in the offending but a jury found him guilty on charges of extortion, aggravated burglary and common law assault.

The 57-year-old from Collingwood fronted the County Court for sentencing on Tuesday where he was jailed for six years,

A co-offender and former bikie Hasan Genc was sentenced to 12 months’ imprisonment in April for his role in the offending against Shepparton accountant Steve Di Petta.

Genc, a former member of Finks Motorcycle Club, was a client of Mr Di Petta from SDP Tax Accountants in November 2019.

On November 15, 2019 Genc and Ercan travelled from Melbourne to Shepparton as the former had made an appointment to see Mr Di Petta.

Ercan barged into Mr Di Petta’s office uninvited and told him he was there to collect $500,000 he owed which the accountant denied.

Shepparton accountant Steve Di Petta was threatened and ordered to pay $500,000 within a week by Melbourne man Sam Ercan.

Judge Geoff Chettle said Genc then walked in, pretending he didn’t know what was happening.

Ercan pretended to rough up Genc, took his wallet and sat him down before another demand for money was made of Mr Di Petta.

Judge Chettle said Ercan pushed a handgun into Mr Di Petta’s leg and said “I am gonna put a bullet in your leg to remind you”.

The accountant pushed the gun away from his leg but Ercan pushed it against his head and said he’d be back in seven days to collect the money. Ercan said he knew where Mr Di Petta’s children lived to ward him off going to the police. When Mr Di Petta said he couldn’t raise $500,000 in seven days., Ercan gave him 30 days to pay. After Ercan left, Genc told Mr Di Petta that Ercan was a Hells Angels’ member and was not to be f----d with.

Genc told him not to tell his wife or go to the police, just pay up as “they’re watching your house”.

Judge Geoffrey Chettle said Sam Ercan’s standover tactic was an extremely serious example of a confrontational aggravated burglary.

Judge Chettle said Mr Di Petta suffered from severe depression and acute PTSD, insomnia and fatigue from the impact of the crime.

In his victim impact statement, Mr Di Petta said: “The long term consequences are disheartening, as the prospects of returning to work remains elusive, overshadowed by the constant apprehension of the initial attack and potential reprisals.”

Judge Chettle said an elaborate plan was used to terrorise Mr Di Petta and that it was an extremely serious example of a confrontational aggravated burglary.

“Not only did you carry out a firearm, you used it in a frightening manner. You seriously threatened Mr Di Petta and his children and sought to extort a very significant sum of money.”

Ercan will be eligible for parole in four years.