Federal Judge Sentences Karen Cunagin Sypher to 87 Months’ Imprisonment in Connection with Extortion Attempt of Richard Pitino

LOUISVILLE, KY—U.S. District Judge Charles R. Simpson today sentenced Karen Cunagin Sypher to 87 months’ imprisonment to be followed by two years’ supervised release, announced United States Attorney David J. Hale and Elizabeth A. Fries, Special Agent in Charge, Louisville Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

“We agree with Judge Simpson’s characterization of the defendants actions and are satisfied with the sentence meted out today,” remarked U.S. Attorney Hale.

Following eight days of trial, a federal jury in Louisville, Kentucky convicted Sypher on August 5, 2011, on all counts contained in a superseding indictment returned in November 2009, including three counts of extortion, two counts of making false statements to FBI agents, and one count of witness retaliation.

Evidence presented during trial revealed that in February 2009, Sypher caused another individual to place three phone calls to Pitino’s cell phone threatening to harm Pitino’s reputation, accuse him of raping Sypher on two occasions, and causing her to have an abortion in 2003. One phone call gave Pitino a two-week deadline to make things right or the caller would divulge the information to the media. In April 2009, when interviewed by agents with the Federal Bureau of Investigation looking into the extortion matter, Sypher denied knowing the identity of the caller.

The jury also found that on March 22, 2009, Sypher caused a Louisville attorney to send Pitino a letter threatening to harm Rick Pitino’s reputation and demanding compensation based on Sypher’s accusations that Pitino raped her twice, forced her to have an abortion, and orchestrated her marriage to one of his assistants in order to silence her. Sypher also made a false statement to FBI agents when she told them that her relationship with her attorney was strictly business. Jurors heard evidence that she, in fact, was involved in a sexual relationship with her attorney.

Finally, jurors heard evidence that on July 14, 2009, in retaliation for Rick Pitino reporting Sypher’s extortion attempt, Sypher went to the Louisville Metro Police Department and filed a criminal complaint alleging that Rick Pitino raped her. Sypher’s allegations were later determined by the Jefferson County Commonwealth’s Attorney to be without merit.

This case was the result of a 15-month investigation by Special Agents Steven J. Wight and David J. Beyer of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant United States Attorneys John E. Kuhn, Jr., and Marisa J. Ford prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.