Rapper Mystikal and two friends were arrested Thursday on charges of rape and extortion, the Associated Press reports. Mystikal (real name: Michael Tyler), 26, and friends Leland Ellis, 36, and Vercy Carter, 34, turned themselves in to authorities in connection with an incident at the rapper's Baton Rouge, La., home in which the three allegedly threatened a female acquaintance by telling her they would accuse her of getting checks from Mystikal's bank account without his permission, the news service reports. They are accused of extortion for allegedly demanding sex in exchange for not turning her in to police, as well as aggravated rape for the sex acts themselves. If convicted of rape, Mystikal, a New Orleans native and Army veteran, faces a mandatory life sentence in prison; the extortion charge would tack on an additional sentence of 1 to 15 years. "During the attacks, the victim was repeatedly threatened with prosecution of the checks and great bodily harm," Baton Rouge police said in a statement, according to the AP. "The victim was allowed to leave the residence after the attacks. She was treated and released at a local hospital." Neither Mystikal's attorney nor his record company, Jive, were available to the AP for comment. The rapper, who started his own label, Big Truck Records, this year and has enjoyed success with his recent CD "Tarantula," was released on a $250,000 bond, according to the AP.
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