I-Team: Cleveland activist Antoine Tolbert, now charged with extortion, received city safety funds last year

CLEVELAND (WJW) — A community activist who was arrested this week on an extortion charge received thousands of dollars from the city of Cleveland in December.

A local business owner accused Antoine Tolbert of demanding money for protection.

Rubin Swift, one of the owners of the gas station, said Tolbert and members of Tolbert’s organization started showing up at the Lee Road and Harvard Avenue gas station two weeks ago. Swift said Tolbert refused to leave and some of the members of the group wore masks and had weapons.

According to city records, Tolbert’s organization, New Era Cleveland, received $25,000 from the Cleveland Neighborhood Safety Fund in December.

The FOX 8 I-Team reached out to the city to discuss the matter. A city spokesman sent the following statement:

“The grant he received was allocated nine months before this incident occurred. We’re currently having internal discussions about the matter.”

Tolbert was in Cleveland Municipal Court on Friday to face the felony charge. His attorney told the court that Tolbert works with teenagers and is a community activist.

The judge set his bond at $40,000 and ordered him to stay away from the gas station. He was also ordered to turn over his weapons to police.

Tolbert told the judge police already have his weapons.

Swift said he also got a protection order. He said Tolbert has terrorized and threatened him and his employees.

“We are not in Russia,” said Swift. “He can’t just take over a business. It’s wrong.”

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