Atlanta man tried to extort Oprah

[Neil D]

Oprah Winfry was targeted by an extortionist who claimed to have damaging audio tapes he would have released publicly if he wasn't paid off, federal court charges allege, reported TMZ.com.

The Atlanta, Georgia man, Keifer Bonvillain, is accused of illegally taping phone conversations he had with a Winfrey employee, allegedly asking for $1.5 million from a second Winfrey "business associate," to quash the alleged incriminating materials.

TMZ reports Bonvillain threatened to sell the information to the tabloids or pen a book.

The Chicago Sun-Times and Chicago Tribune on Saturday identified "Individual A" as Winfrey, whose Harpo Studios is based in Chicago. Winfrey is not identified in the complaint, but instead the documents refer to an "Individual A," who is "a public figure and the owner of a Chicago-based company."