The alleged prostitute accused of being part of an extortion scheme that resulted in a Bloomington "john" killing himself last month has been arrested and was in custody Thursday night at the Hennepin County jail.

Authorities say Shannon Gura, 26, of Huntsville, Ala., videotaped herself having sex with the 57-year-old man and had been working with an alleged pimp, Rickey Pouncil, to blackmail the victim for hundreds of thousands of dollars.

The man had been paying to keep the extortionists from revealing explicit photographs. But on May 10, he shot and killed himself in the Minnesota Valley Wildlife Refuge, leaving behind a note saying, "I am being extorted over $500,000. Best for my family and friends."

According to a search warrant made public last week, Christina Artac, a woman who was dating Pouncil, told police that Gura had been collecting the extortion money from the victim, but had yet to share any proceeds with Pouncil.

Gura was taken into custody Wednesday after a warrant was issued for her arrest. She is scheduled to appear in district court next Thursday, jail records show.

ANTHONY LONETREE