SPRINGFIELD - Jurors convicted former Lee Police Chief Joseph Buffis on a single count of extortion but acquitted him of 10 additional charges including wire fraud and money-laundering.

The panel delivered a startlingly swift verdict Tuesday morning after reporting they were deadlocked just yesterday afternoon.

The extortion charge relates to a shakedown of two former Lee innkeepers for $4,000 in exchange for shelving a prostitution case against the couple. The government's theory was that Buffis, a 34-year-veteran of the force, steered that money and tens of thousands dollars more into the Laliberte Toy Fund, a Christmas charity he controlled.

That money then ended up in Buffis' pocket while the needy children of Lee went toyless, was the government's theory. Although jurors apparently didn't buy it.

Oddly, the extortion charge was the very count jurors reported they were deadlocked over on Monday afternoon.

Lawyers on both sides of the case said they will offer comment shortly. Buffis said he will not be speaking.

The Republican is at the courthouse and will provide updates to this story.