updated 8:27 p.m. ET Nov. 24, 2004

NEW YORK - A lawyer and two ex-convicts remained in jail Wednesday after being arraigned on charges of trying to use a videotape of a fistfight to blackmail Denver Nuggets basketball star Carmelo Anthony for $3 million.

Rodrigo Sanchez, 36, a lawyer who lives in South Orange, N.J., and Santos Joubert, 29, and Jason Pabon, 26, both of the Bronx, were held after arraignment in Manhattan Criminal Court on charges of grand larceny and possession of stolen property.

Judge Richard Weinberg set bail at $75,000 for Sanchez, $125,000 for Pabon, and $150,000 for Joubert. He scheduled their next court appearance for Dec. 8.

The three were arrested after a meeting Tuesday inside the Trump International Hotel where a check for $1.25 million was given to Pabon by an undercover detective, a court complaint said.

Assistant District Attorney Jeremy Saland said Joubert was the instigator behind the alleged scheme. He said Joubert set up the meetings with Anthony’s people, telling them, “I’m from the ghetto. I have a criminal record. I’m going to do what I have to do to get my family out of the ghetto.”

“This was his golden opportunity,” Saland said. “The defendant (Joubert) actually bragged about his criminal record to Mr. Anthony’s representatives. He is a predicate felon and he is currently on parole.”

The prosecutor said Joubert recently told his parole officer, “I’m coming into some money real soon and I’m moving to Florida.”

The videotape supposedly depicts the Nuggets forward in a fight with someone after a dispute involving his girlfriend inside Club Babalu on West 44th Street on Sept. 13.

The prosecutor accused Sanchez of being the “catalyst of this whole thing coming together.” He said Sanchez contacted Anthony’s representatives, handled most of the negotiations, and guaranteed his client would relinquish the tape.

Lawyers for all three defendants said their clients had committed no crimes involving the videotape and Anthony.

Sanchez’ lawyer, Larry Bronson, said his client was negotiating a contract on behalf of the other men. “What the district attorney views as a crime,” Bronson said, “we view as a legitimate contract negotiation.”

Joubert’s lawyer, Michael Paul, argued similarly. He said Joubert, on parole for the past two years, signed a retainer agreement with Sanchez and had been in what he thought were legitimate talks about the videotape for the past two months.

Paul said he believes the case should be a civil rather than a criminal matter.

Anthony’s agent, Calvin Andrews, issued a statement Tuesday night saying the suspects were “ill-intentioned” and “trying to cash in” on the taped altercation.

“That incident was a private matter between two individuals, and it has been completely resolved,” said Andrews.

MORE FROM NORTHWEST (DEN, MINN, OKC, PORT, UTAH)

Rubio reportedly decides to stay in Spain

Rubio reportedly decides to stay in Spain Seattle transplants mark 1st year in Oklahoma City Rookie Maynor signs two-year deal with Jazz Jazz retain Boozer, Okur on eve of free agency Nuggets’ Smith sentenced to 90 days in jail Timberwolves waiting on Rubio Korver staying with Utah Shaq says he turned down trade to Blazers Harden excited to join Thunder’s talented youth   Add Northwest (Den, Minn, OKC, Port, Utah) headlines to your news reader: