Two Inverness residents on Thursday were arrested in connection with turned out to be a faked kidnapping.

Arrested were Travis J. Whatley, 22, of 1909 Silverwood St., and Carla Ann Sleight, 25, of 2920 Clearwood St.

The Citrus County Sheriff's Office received a call shortly after midnight on Thursday from Sleight's 65-year-old mother that her daughter, Carla, had been kidnapped and was being held for a ransom of $1,500.

The mother told deputies that she was speaking with a man on the telephone, who later was identified as Whatley, and that he was threatening to harm Carla if she did not give him the money. The mother also said she had spoken with Carla on the phone, and that Carla confirmed she was being held for ransom.

Whatley set up a meeting with the mother and daughter at the Bank of America in Crystal River, where the mother was supposed to give the money to Carla, who would then give it to "the person holding her". The mother also said that while she was speaking to Carla on the phone, threats were made that Carla would be shot of the mother did not provide the money.

Deputies responded to the bank, and saw Whatley and Carol outside of the bank. Carla entered the bank and retrieved the money from her mother. Once Carla exited the bank, she was intercepted by deputies, along with Whatley, and the pair was then taken into custody and taken in for questioning.

After being read her rights, Carla told deputies she and Whatley had come up with the plan to call her mother and say she had been kidnapped and was being held for ransom, and that Whatley would yell in the background that he was going to harm Carla in various ways.

After being read his rights, Whatley admitted conspiring with Carla. He also added that he was going to split the money with Carla, and that he knew it was too good to be true and that he also knew something would go wrong with the plan.

Carla Sleight and Whatley were arrested and taken to the county jail.

Both were charged with extortion and bond was set at $5,000 apiece.