Louisville Woman Charged with Extortion and Making False Statements to the Federal Bureau of Investigation

LOUISVILLE, KY—Acting United States Attorney Candace Hill, and Timothy D. Cox, Special Agent in Charge, Louisville Division, Federal Bureau of Investigation,  jointly announce that a criminal complaint was filed today in United States District Court, in Louisville, Kentucky, against Karen Sypher, of Louisville, Kentucky. The criminal complaint charges that Sypher violated Title 18, United States Code Section 875(d), by transmitting in interstate commerce, with the intent to extort money, a threat to injure the reputation of University of Louisville Basketball Coach Rick Pitino; and charges that she violated Title 18, United States Code Section 1001, for knowingly and willfully making materially false statements to agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation during the course of their investigation into the extortion. 

According to an Affidavit filed by Agent Steven J. Wight, of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Sypher was responsible for telephone messages left on Pitino’s cell phone by an unidentified male in February, 2009. The telephone messages concerned unsubstantiated allegations of a personal nature, and threatened disclosure to the media. Sypher falsely denied to FBI agents that she knew who made the calls, but the caller was identified and stated to agents that Sypher had prompted him to make the February calls, told him details to recite, and provided Mr. Pitino’s cell phone number. Those calls resulted in a series of events in which Sypher demanded money from Pitino.

Sypher’s attorney arranged for her to voluntarily appear before United States Magistrate Judge Dave Whalin this afternoon at 3:30 p.m. for her initial appearance in federal court.

Acting United States Attorney Candace G. Hill praised the efforts of the FBI for its diligence and professionalism in investigating these matters. The FBI and the U.S. Attorney’s Office are mindful of their responsibilities to protect victims, no matter who they are, from the criminal conduct of others.

In the event of a conviction on these charges, Sypher faces a potential penalty of two years’ imprisonment for the extortion charge and five years’ imprisonment on the false-statement charge; a $250,000.00 fine as to each charge; and supervised release for a period of not more than three years as to each charge.   Assistant United States Attorney John E. Kuhn, Jr. is prosecuting the case.

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