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Inside Pitino's extortion case

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08:34 AM ET 04.25 | Six days after the disclosure that University of Louisville men's basketball coach Rick Pitino was the target of an extortion attempt, a Louisville woman was charged with extortion and lying to the FBI. According to a criminal complaint filed in U.S District Court, Karen Sypher, with the help of unnamed others, tried to extort money from Pitino with threats to harm his reputation in connection with events that occurred in 2003. The complaint, filed by FBI agent Steven J. Wight, said she lied to the FBI when she told investigators that she didn???t know the identity of the person who was making threatening phone calls to Pitino. According to an affidavit by Wight, Pitino told investigators that he received three voice-mail messages in late February threatening to go public with criminal allegations against him. Pitino said that after receiving the first two messages he met with Sypher and her husband, Tim, according to the affidavit, and asked what she wanted. According to the affidavit, they discussed the possibility of a house, cars and money. The affidavit goes on to say that Tim Sypher delivered to Pitino on March 6 a written list of demands from Karen Sypher calling for college tuition for her children, two cars of her choice, a house paid off, $3,000 cash per month and a lump-sum payment of $75,000 if Pitino leaves U of L. According to the affidavit, the note says, "If all is accepted, I will protect Rick Pitino's name for life." The affidavit said she later withdrew her demands and through an attorney requested $10 million from Pitino. The university disclosed last Saturday that Pitino had asked the FBI to investigate. Pitino gave no specifics on the actions he claims are being taken against him, but said in the statement, "I intend to vigorously defend my reputation and the character of my family against any criminal scheme to extort money."

Louisville Courier-Journal

Rick Pitino, AP Rick Pitino, AP
April 25, 2009  09:56 AM ET

Wait a minute, she requested blackmail money through a freakin attorney??? Another brain damaged broad, and **** kinda attorney is this??? Geeeeeeeeeeezus.

April 25, 2009  11:10 AM ET

The just goes to show how stupid some people really are.

April 25, 2009  01:12 PM ET

Karen Sypher calling for college tuition for her children, two cars of her choice

Sounds like an affair. Sorry to hear this for Rick's family. Sorry to see the public has to endure this.

Arrest the tart for prostitution.

April 25, 2009  01:27 PM ET

The attorney may be the next one charged

April 25, 2009  10:39 PM ET

Attorney's can sometimes be the scum of the earth. This brings back to mind the recent episode of the attorney in New Jersey shopping the tape of VP Biden's daughter allegedly doing lines of cocaine for a network payoff for his client. Aren't they supposed to have standards?

April 25, 2009  10:56 PM ET

No one in Louisville can be caught off guard by these allegations. Pitino has always been known to exploit his status with many women. Unfortunately, for him this has come back and will hurt his reputatoin beyond repair. There will be no winners in this fiasco. Pitino does not want to be on the witness stand if there is a question regarding his integrity as far as a family man. He will be disgraced. Now what does his wife do with him. It is one thing to be caught cheating on your wife, but with millions of people in the know is too much to ask. It is better to read the book than be the writer.

April 25, 2009  11:59 PM ET
QUOTE(#6):

No one in Louisville can be caught off guard by these allegations. Pitino has always been known to exploit his status with many women. Unfortunately, for him this has come back and will hurt his reputatoin beyond repair. There will be no winners in this fiasco. Pitino does not want to be on the witness stand if there is a question regarding his integrity as far as a family man. He will be disgraced. Now what does his wife do with him. It is one thing to be caught cheating on your wife, but with millions of people in the know is too much to ask. It is better to read the book than be the writer.

Do what Kobe did admit it, buy a huge ring and move on!! We all get a little power strung sometimes!!

April 26, 2009  12:26 AM ET

There are only two types of husbands:
1) Those who cheat on their wives and get caught
2) Those who cheat on their wives and don't get caught

April 26, 2009  06:05 AM ET

How can it be extortion when Rick asked them what they wanted? He is the one who initiated the conversation and asked what they wanted. All they did was reply with his request and told him what they wanted. Either way it seems pretty strange. His employee, the trainer was involved to?

April 26, 2009  10:26 AM ET

So who's the idiot babe's attorney? C'mon details.....details....Geez

April 26, 2009  10:55 AM ET
QUOTE(#8):

There are only two types of husbands:1) Those who cheat on their wives and get caught2) Those who cheat on their wives and don't get caught

"You can't call it cheatin', she reminds me of you"

- The Gin Blossoms

April 27, 2009  11:29 AM ET

Like the old saying goes: "You never do anything wrong; until you get caught!!"

April 27, 2009  12:41 PM ET
QUOTE(#1):

Wait a minute, she requested blackmail money through a freakin attorney??? Another brain damaged broad, and **** kinda attorney is this??? Geeeeeeeeeeezus.

I think you might have your facts wrong.....the attorney was never a go between. You need to read a bit closer

April 27, 2009  12:42 PM ET
QUOTE(#1):

Wait a minute, she requested blackmail money through a freakin attorney??? Another brain damaged broad, and **** kinda attorney is this??? Geeeeeeeeeeezus.

I think you have your facts wrong.....the article NEVER says an attorney was a "go-between" in the blackmail. She has an attorney who is representing her......not sure where you are getting this info. I live in Louisville and that is not what happened.

April 28, 2009  10:33 AM ET

"events that occurred in 2003."
"threatening to go public with criminal allegations against him."


Moar rumors here please....

April 28, 2009  10:34 AM ET
QUOTE(#3):

Karen Sypher calling for college tuition for her children, two cars of her choiceSounds like an affair. Sorry to hear this for Rick's family. Sorry to see the public has to endure this.Arrest the tart for prostitution.

Is she cute? Or a ****? I would hope at least Ricky has some taste in babes as well as suits.

April 29, 2009  02:33 PM ET

cards2828,...... "The affidavit said she later withdrew her demands and through an attorney requested $10 million from Pitino."

maybe YOU should learn how to read a little more carefully next time don't ya think?

April 30, 2009  09:59 AM ET

Hey Cats fan....have you ever seen Pitino with another women? I work at UofL and I've never seen or heard about other women...I think those rumors are started by Cats fans that wish he had never left UK. Unless you have the "dress"....he's innocent.

 
May 20, 2009  11:45 AM ET

The trial means that damaging true material on Pitino is going to come out. He didn't contact Sacremento (as the NBA officially announced) because everything is sweetness and light. He's a terrific basketball coach but give me Tubby - or Calipari - any time overall. I'm glad he left UK. This stuff would have surfaced years ago in Lexington where there are no secrets of any consequence.

It is hard to make an extortion case when you asked what they wanted. She will get it for lying about the phone messages to the FBI, but looks like little else. I'm afraid it makes her husband look extremely bad, the situation reeks.

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