Men accused of nuke plant extortion

FONTANA, California (CNN) -- Two Southern California men have been arrested for allegedly trying to extort $92,000 from an Arizona power plant in exchange for the return of millions of dollars in parts from nuclear generators, law enforcement officials said.

Kevin Robert Mitlo, 20, and Tony Edward Mitchell, 31, were taken into custody Friday after refusing to return the generator parts sent to All Machine Specialist for a repair estimate by Palo Verde Nuclear Generating Station near Phoenix, according to a statement from San Bernardino County Sheriff Gary Penrod.

The men demanded $92,000 for work they claimed they had performed -- investigators said the work was not done -- and refused to return $3,000,000 in parts sent by the power station for the estimate.

"They refused to return the multi-million dollar parts until they were paid and concealed the parts until an arrangement was made to exchange the money for the parts, which are integral parts needed to keep the nuclear generators running," Penrod said.

Mitlo and Mitchell were arrested at a truck stop in Fontana and face possible charges of extortion, conspiracy and grand theft once an investigation is completed, according to the sheriff's department.