Ex-Butler Found Guilty in Philanthropist Extortion A former butler was convicted Thursday of trying to extort millions of dollars from philanthropist Anne H. Bass during a 2007 invasion at her Connecticut estate. A federal jury in New Haven found Emanuel Nicolescu guilty of attempted extortion and other charges on its first day of deliberations. Authorities say three men broke into the house on April 15, 2007, injected Bass and her partner, Julian Lethbridge, with what they claimed was a deadly virus and refused to provide an antidote unless they turned over $8.5 million. "Mrs. Bass and Mr. Lethbridge are grateful for the authorities' ongoing commitment to solving the case and they remain hopeful that everybody responsible for this crime will eventually be brought to justice," said Allan Mayer, a spokesman for Bass. Nicolescu's attorney, who did not call any witnesses, has said his client did not participate in the crime. Nicolescu, who is scheduled to be sentenced June 14, faces up to 50 years in prison. Defense attorney Audrey Felsen didn't immediately return a message seeking comment. Bass, 70, testified Tuesday she was certain she would die during the crime. She said she heard "war cries" from men dressed in black who threw her to the floor, tied her up and talked about whether to kidnap her 3-year-old grandson. She said she told the men the boy would be terrified to see them dressed in black. The boy was not harmed. "I spent a lot of time thinking about my children and how horrible it was going to be for them because I was sure I was going to die," Bass said. At one point, the men taunted Bass when she requested water, asking if she would prefer wine or Champagne instead. Lethbridge testified last week that the six-hour ordeal began as he was falling asleep in a sitting room and was startled by a crashing sound. Then he heard the sound of heavy feet rushing up the stairs and what sounded like a "war cry sound." Prosecutors say Nicolescu's DNA was found in a Jeep stolen from the property during the home invasion. Bass, former wife of Texas billionaire Sid Bass, also has homes in New York City and Fort Worth, Texas.