MCDONALD, Ohio - The owner of Ianazone's Pizza has been convicted and fined for filing a false report when he told police had been robbed last year.

It was last May when James Ianazone told McDonald police that he was held up at gunpoint by two men outside his East Marshall Street store.

Ianazone told police that the robbers drove away in with $32,000.

The Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation and Identification joined the investigation and determined that no robbery occurred.

According to police, Ianazone confessed that he staged the robbery because he was being extorted for cash.

Ianazone further stated that he has paid an undisclosed amount of money to the two alleged suspects that he had previously accused of robbing him.

Ianazone was unable to provide police with very much information on the alleged extortionist, nor have investigators been able to find any credible evidence related to an extortion plot.

In January authorities charged Ianazone with inducing panic, obstructing official business, making a false alarm and falsification.

Last month Ianazone pleaded no contest, and was found guilty of falsifiction and making a false alrarm.

The judge in Niles Municpial Court fined him a total of $1,500.