Federal complaint filed against ex-Pacific Grove police commander

Former Pacific Grove police commander John Nyunt now faces federal criminal charges of wire fraud and extortion.

Nyunt pleaded guilty Thursday in Monterey County Superior Court to multiple felony charges, including dissuading a person from reporting a crime by threats of violence, being an accessory after the fact to theft and burglary and being an accomplice to the burglary of a business. He was sentenced to three years in prison.

Prosecutors say Nyunt lied to victims about investigations in which his wife was a prime suspect and directed subordinates to close some investigations.

Kristin Nyunt is charged with committing numerous incidents of identity theft and prosecutors allege her husband helped her gain access to sensitive personal information through online police databases. Her case is still pending and she has pleaded not guilty to all charges.

Meanwhile, her husband now faces charges in U.S. District Court in San Jose for extortion and wire fraud. According to the federal criminal complaint, Nyunt is accused of extorting money and information from a crime victim by using his position within the police department. He’s also accused of unlawfully providing access to sensitive police databases.

To read the entire federal complaint, click here.