Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
News
Cops and Swedes Bust Midtown Scam Artist
By
Ben Muessig
Published Feb 25, 2010
Modified Mar 2, 2010
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
By
Ben Muessig
Published Feb 25, 2010
Modified Mar 2, 2010
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
A thief unsuccessfully attempted to extort a Swedish military official and his elderly father for $40 using a widely known scam, Lt. Cmdr. Peter Palm testified in court yesterday. According to the Swedish intelligence commander, career criminal Louis Parson tried to pull a "broken bottle scam"—which closely resembles a "broken glasses scam"—on him and his father in a Midtown hotel.
According to the Daily News, the military man and his dad were returning to the Hotel Pennsylvania after a tour of jazz clubs when suspect Louis Parson bumped into them and dropped a bottle that purportedly contained booze. "You have to give me money for my bottles," Parson allegedly said, demanding $40 dollars. Understanding he was being scammed, Palm claims he refused to hand over the money and said "it wasn't my fault." Parson then trailed the pair across the lobby and said the matter could be settled for $20, before threatening them with a box cutter, according to Palm. "Am I going to have to f--- you up over this?" Parson reportedly said.
That's when two undercover officers who witnessed the scam pounced on Parson. Palm and his father fled, believing the plainclothes cops were also thieves. Parson, who has a long rap sheet of violent crimes and could face life in prison if convicted of attempted robbery, said he's done the bottle scam "hundreds of times." But he denies pulling a knife on the Swedes: "He put his fist up—which I took as a threat," he said, claiming he took out the knife in self-defense. "I've been hit five to six times doing this con."
Here's a rather anticlimactic video of the scam:
Tagged
bottle
bottle scam
broken bottle scam
broken glasses scam
con
conman
glasses scam
Grift
grifter
hotel pennsylvania
Louis parson
military
peter palm
scam
scam artist
swede
sweden
Ben Muessig
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE news
NYC Council to consider earlier Legionella reporting after deadly outbreaks
A bill facing a hearing Monday would require cooling tower owners to notify city health officials when bacteria levels reach a much lower threshold.
By
Catalina Gonella
Published Oct 18, 2026 at 7:36 p.m. ET
Staten Island fire injures 2, but spares historic 'Godfather' church
Dozens of firefighters responded to the blaze, which started in a vacant warehouse. It was contained within three hours.
By
Giulia Heyward
News
Staten Island fire injures 2, but spares historic 'Godfather' church
Dozens of firefighters responded to the blaze, which started in a vacant warehouse. It was contained within three hours.
By
Giulia Heyward
Bail reform remains major issue in NY governor's race, 7 years after it became law
By
Gino Fanelli
NYPD identifies Bronx man, 26, killed in Midtown subway shooting
By
Ryan Kost
,
Elizabeth Kim
and
Phil Corso
Have you seen this Yorkie? NYPD looking for adorable pup dognapped from her Queens home
By
Ryan Kost
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .