Letterman’s Alleged Extortionist Lives In Shabby, Crime-Ridden Neighborhood

David Letterman's alleged extortionist Robert “Joe” Halderman appears to have fallen on tough times. The area that Halderman lives in consists of pockets of crime-ridden neighborhoods and low-income housing.

Halderman Pleads Not Guilty

Which is ironic since David Letterman, Martha Stewart and Paul Newman once lived just one mile away in posh, upscale Westport, CT, a sleepy beach town where homes tend to start at $1 million.

Halderman’s financial woes

Halderman lives on the other side of the tracks, down a bumpy, poorly-paved road off a busy highway lined with strip malls, in a shabby colonial with chipping paint, garbage piled outside, a Honda Civic parked in the driveway and a basketball net.

Halderman Lived With Woman That Slept With Letterman

Halderman’s arrest is the talk of the town and has everyone buzzing,  "People need money these days,” one neighbor, Tara Baahabar told RadarOnline.com "So they're trying all sorts of things to get it.

“Everyone was watching news of the arrest in amazement. So weird it’s happening right here in our little town."

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Those close to Halderman are also scratching their heads. While Halderman may have been in financial dire straits, those close to him believe he was too smart a man to resort to extortion. "One thing I don't get is why he would do this," said one CBS producer who knows Halderman and wished to remain anonymous. "He's smarter than this. None of it makes sense and now CBS is in a weird place, with Joe, David and all of us reporting on it." 

Halderman Arrested After Trying To Cash Phony Check

Previous to living in the dingy section of Norwalk, Halderman once lived in an exclusive section of Norwalk called Rowayton on private Bell Island, a split of land in Long Island Sound surrounded by multi-million dollar homes where most resident own boats and enjoy private parks and two private beaches.