Image by Flickr user Brymo

Update July 8:

The Post and Courier reports that a federal grand jury has handed down a six-count indictment against developer Thomas True and martial arts master Gunther Blancke -- each face one count of conspiracy to commit extortion by wrongful use of force and five counts of attempted extortion.

True and Blancke are accused of holding and torturing Greer developer Steven Sarkela prisoner in True’s Mount Pleasant home for more three hours.

First reporting:

The Federal Bureau of Investigation is working to figure out exactly what happened during a home invasion in Mount Pleasant's Snee Farm community.

The owner of the house claims that he came home from the gym to discover an intruder and immediately called the Mount Pleasant police. However, the suspect claims that he was beaten, threatened and feared for his life at the hands of the homeowner and another man.

According to Live News 5's report, the suspect told the FBI he was duct taped to a chair and threatened with a knife until he signed a document promising he'd hand over over $200,000 from the sale of a James Island condo.

Judging from what was said during a bugged phone call between the two parties involved, it appears that the suspect is telling the truth.

Head over to Live News 5 for more on this unusual case.