DEVELOPING: Sypher Sentenced To 87 Months

Karen Sypher has been sentenced to 7 years and 3 months in a federal prison and 2 years supervised release after being found guilty of extortion, lying to the FBI, and retaliation against a witness.

Sypher could have received a sentence of 4 ½ years to 9 years in federal prison based on federal sentencing guidelines.

Judge Simpson decided on the lowest end of the range of possible sentence, saying that the range he has settled on was from 87-108 months. 87 months was the lowest Sypher could have received within the range Judge Simpson selected. In sentencing Sypher, Judge Simpson said, “this is a serious crime because it involves serious money.” Simpson said it was a brazen offense, driven by "sheer greed."

Here's coverage from our friends at WHAS-TV in Louisville..


Sypher had demanded, as part of the extortion from Pitino, items with an appraised value of US$4.4-million- not including the college education demands she made. Her attorneys wanted their claims that Sypher suffered from ADHD and PTSD to be included in the consideration of her sentencing term.

No New Trial For Karen Sypher

A federal judge says the woman convicted of trying to extort Louisville basketball coach Rick Pitino out of millions of dollars has not produced any new evidence and will not get a new trial.

U.S. District Judge Charles R. Simpson III wrote that claims by Karen Cunagin Sypher of newly discovered evidence are "merely compilations of items" her previous attorney had during her trial. Simpson also turned down a claim that Sypher's former attorney, James Earhart of Louisville, was ineffective.

Sypher was convicted back in August of extortion, lying to the FBI, and retaliation against a witness. Prosecutors said she sought millions in cash, cars and a house from Pitino to stay quiet about a sexual encounter in a Louisville restaurant back in 2003.

She is scheduled for sentencing February 18th...

Here's the story from when the judge initially postponed the sentencing...
((HT: WHAS-TV Louisville))

DEVELOPING: Sypher Gets New Representation

((HT: WDRB/Fox 41 Louisville))

In a few days, Karen Cunagin Sypher is supposed to be sentenced for her conviction in her extortion trial of Rick Pitino. She has now fired her old lawyer... and James Earhart didn't even know he was out of a job...

In August, a jury convicted Sypher of extortion, lying to the FBI, and retaliating against a witness.

She walked into the U.S. District Court with Jim Faller, an attorney from the group U.S. Justice Watch.

Faller filed three motions -- the first to remove her previous attorney James Earhart, the second to remove Judge Charles Simpson. The legal team claims the judge is directly tied to the University of Louisville. They want a special judge assigned and her conviction tossed out.

How 'bout that...
The HQ doesn't think it'll amount to anything, but hey, it's worth a shot, right...?

Here's Bennett Haeberle in front of the courthouse...

DEVELOPING: Sypher Attorney Says Witnesses "May Have Lied"

((HT: WDRB-TV Louisville))

The attorney for Karen Sypher, who was convicted of trying to extort University of Louisville basketball coach Rick Pitino, says prosecution witnesses may have lied during trial.

James Earhart alleged that idea in a motion filed in U.S. District Court in Louisville asking for more time to request a new trial. The motion says "a key witness or witnesses" may have committed perjury.

Earhart doesn't go into any further detail and has requested U.S. District Judge Charles R. Simpson give him another month and a half to investigate his finding so he can request a new trial.

Sentencing is currently set for October 27th...
More when we know more...

2000 UPDATE: According to WLKY-TV in Louisville, the judge has granted the order sought by Earhart...

Karen Sypher Guilty On All Counts

((HT: WDRB-TV Louisville))

A jury has convicted Karen Sypher of attempting to extort millions of dollars from Louisville basketball coach Rick Pitino after the two had sex in a restaurant in 2003.

The jury delivered the verdict after deliberating a little over five hours over a two day period.

Sypher was convicted of extortion, lying to authorities and retaliating against a witness. She faces a max of 26 years in prison, but under federal sentencing guidelines, the penalty shouldn't be that bad.

Here's Chris Turner outside in the shade again for his liveshot after the verdict was read...


The line of the tourney comes from Karen Sypher's son, Jacob Wise, as he was walking out of the courtroom. Wise, according to witnesses, clapped his hands sarcastically and shouted out, "Thanks for taking my mother away, guys!"

Sentencing is set for October 27th. She is free on bond until then...

Pitino Extortion Trial Day 7: Everyone Rests, Jury Deliberating

Karen Cunagin Sypher's defense attorney, James Earhart, said she had been "villainized" during the trial during his closing argument. He also called her the victim of a botched investigation by police- despite the apparent contradictions in her timelines, questioning, and interviews...

Before that, the prosecution stated its case. Federal Prosecutor Marisa Ford, "This is a case about a defendant, Karen Sypher, seeking a golden parachute." She continued, saying Sypher wanted "something for nothing."

Ford also described Sypher's actions as a shakedown...

Earhardt rested the defense case without calling any witnesses- including Karen Cunagin Sypher.

Closing arguments were slated for the afternoon...

Chris Turner is outside in the shade again for his liveshot...
((HT: WDRB-TV))


1600 UPDATE: The jury has started deliberating the case. If convicted of extortion and lying to the FBI, she faces up to seven years in prison and a $500,000 fine.

Pitino Extortion Trial Day 7: Detectives Testify Against Sypher, Prosecution Rests

Prosecutors have rested their case against Karen Sypher.

Tuesday's close came after seven days and 21 witnesses. Sypher's defense is expected to begin Wednesday. It's not known if she will take the witness stand in her own defense.

Louisville police Sergeant Andy Abbott took the stand detailing his interrogation in Karen Sypher back in July of 2009, her contradictions, and her fervent charge that Louisville men's basketball coach Rick Pitino raping her...

Chris Turner looks like he found some shade for his live shot...
((HT: WDRB-TV/Fox 41))

Pitino Extortion Trial Day 6: More Testimony Against Sypher

((HT: Fox 41/Louisville))

Day six of the testimony in the Rick Pitino extortion trial centered around:

One of Karen Sypher's divorce attorneys who thought the head basketball coach at Louisville deserved what he was going to get from Sypher. Dana Kolter, was the lawyer who penned the letter to Pitino threatening a lawsuit, and he almost was drawn to tears as he testified.

One ex-husband of Sypher, Randy Wise, testified about how he heard his ex-wife describe what she planned to do to Pitino. Another man, Tyree Fields, also testified that he had an affair with Karen Sypher as her marriage to Tim Sypher was deteriorating. He testified that Sypher knew what she was doing with the extortion claim was "stupid."

Chris Turner has the afternoon patrol for our friends at Fox 41...

Pitino Extortion Trial Day 5: Tim Sypher Testifes

((HT: WDRB-TV/Fox 41))

Tim Sypher told jurors that Rick Pitino asked him to "take a woman out of town" for medical services after the woman said Pitino got her pregnant in the incident described in the Louisville restaurant back in 2003 during the extortion trial this week.

Sypher testified that Pitino didn't mention taking Karen Cunagin Sypher to get an abortion. Tim Sypher also said he called clinics in Indiana and Ohio before taking Karen Sypher to Cincinnati, where she terminated a pregnancy on August 29, 2003.

He also testified that he paid for the procedure from $3,000 Pitino gave for medical insurance.

Tim Sypher and Karen Cunagin would marry less than a year later and are currently divorced...

Here's the early coverage again, thanks to our friends at Fox41...
Chris Turner is in the sunlight again and addresses the delay the trial had during Day 5 as well...

Pitino Extortion Trial Day Four: Pitino Grilled About Encounter With Sypher

((HT: WDRB/Fox 41 Louisville))

It was another fun day on the stand for Louisville head men's hoops coach Rick Pitino. Karen Cunagin Sypher's attorneys got their shot at him...

Pardon the pun...

And it also led to some testy exchanges between Pitino and James Earhart.
Chris Turner had the dayshift again outside the courthouse...


Pitino's testimony ended after two hours Thursday.

Karen Sypher's ex, Tim, testified that she first started making rape allegations in 2007, when their marriage started going in the toidy. He also said his ex-wife, two years later, started talking about things she "wanted from Pitino."

Tim Sypher's testimony continues Friday.
The HQ is thrilled we've made it to Day 5...

Pitino Extortion Trial Day 3: Pitino Testifies

((HT: WDRB-TV/Fox 41))
Louisville basketball coach Rick Pitino admitted to a jury that he had sex with Karen Cunagin Sypher in day three of the extortion trial.

Pitino testified Wednesday that he met Sypher on July 31, 2003, at an Italian restaurant, where Pitino had gone following a golf outing.

Pitino said he and Sypher exchanged small talk after the restaurant closed. He testified that as they were leaving Sypher whispered something, opened his pants and the two then had sex.

Sypher asked for cash ((ten million dollars)), cars and a
house as part of her alleged plot. She has pleaded not guilty, claiming Pitino sexually assaulted her. Authorities are saying her assault claim lacks any kind of foundation at all...

Understandably, the courtoom was standing room only...

Here's the early shift again... thanks to our friends at Fox 41 in Louisville...
((HT: WDRB-TV))

Pitino Extortion Trial: Day Two

The early part of Day Two of the Karen Sypher-Rick Pitino extortion trial got to send our friends at Fox 41 to the front of the room...

Testimony centered around an interview that the Louisville station had around their exclusive Karen Sypher appearance...

The unedited tape... all 70 mintes of the damn thing...

Chris Turner has the day shift outside the courthouse in Louisville...
((HT: WDRB-TV/Fox41))

Pitino Extortion Case: Day One

Opening statements have begun in the Karen Cunagin Sypher case as she stands accuswed of trying to extort University of Louisville basketball coach Rick Pitino, then lying about it to the FBI.

Assistant U.S. Attorney John Kuhn said in court during opening arguments that Sypher threatened to ruin Pitino's reputation with false allegations of rape, and that she lied repeatedly about it.

Sypher, who has (of course) pleaded not guilty, is accused of demanding college tuition for her children, having her house paid off and $10 million for her silence.
Sypher is also accused of trading sexual favors with two attorneys in her attempt to have them exert their influence to have Pitino pay off Sypher's demands.

Here's early coverage from Chris Turner and our friends at WDRB-TV/Fox41 in Louisville...


Defense attorneys, led by James Earhardt, were expected to present opening statements in the afternoon.

Sypher Denies Extortion Attempt On Pitino

Karen Cunagin Sypher's attorney, James Earhart, filed a five-page trial brief for his upcoming trial. It details the charges against his client and what prosecutors must prove to convict her in a Louisville court.

It also includes a single sentence saying she denies the charges.

Opening statements are set to begin July 26 with jury selection set for two weeks beforehand.

Sypher has, of course, pleaded not guilty. She is accused of demanding college tuition for her children, her house to be paid off and $10 million.

Prosecutors filed a trial brief on Wednesday detailing those charges, as well as portions of their witness list and some of their evidence for trial.

Bennett Haeberle stands in front of a monitor to elaborate...
((HT: WDRB/Fox41))

Karen Sypher Has Been Down This Road Before

((HT: WDRB-Fox 41 Louisville))

Federal prosecutors say Karen Sypher had, on one other occasion at least, had tried to extort money from a man before using a similar alleged scheme on Louisville head basketball coach Rick Pitino.

In a brief filed in U.S. District Court, prosecutors said Karen Sypher tried to extort an auto glass salesman in 1999.

The brief was filed in advance of Sypher's July 26th trial on charges she attempted to extort $10 million from Pitino last year, and then lied to the FBI about it when questioned.

Assistant U.S. Attorney John E. Kuhn Jr. says in the brief that the earlier case, which resulted in a civil lawsuit but not criminal charges, will be introduced at the trial.

Sypher has pleaded not guilty.

Here's the full text of the leagl brief...
And here's the text of the jury instructions...

Here's Melanie Kahn's story from WHAS-TV on the evening the indictment was handed down... fun times in Louisville...

Here's One Way To Prejudice A Jury Pool

Do an "exclusive" interview with a local station after a judge denied a "change of venue" motion and just before a trial...

Karen Cunagin Sypher did with WDRB-TV/Fox41's Bennett Haeberle as they get closer to trial in Louisville...

She's charged with trying to extort money from Rick Pitino. She says she gets "chills" thinking about the possibility of going to prison, and she also says she has turned down repeated plea deals from prosecutors.

Sypher says she is prepared for her trial, which is set for July 26th in U.S. District Court in Louisville, where she knows it could end with a trip to prison.

It's been widely known – though not reported by members of the press – that Sypher was offered plea deals to avoid a criminal trial.

Here's the exchange between Haeberle and Cunagin Sypher...

Karen Sypher Adds Four More Charges

((HT: WDRB-TV/Louisville))

She's now the proud owner of a superceding indictment that adds retalliation and lying to the FBI...

We don't think that this is going to go well for Karen Cunagin Sypher.

Fox 41's Bennett Haeberle has followed since the beginning...


Sypher will be arraigned on December 22.
She could face up to 26 years in prison if convicted.
Good luck with that one...

Psych Eval Requested For Sypher

((HT: WDRB-TV/Louisville))

Federal prosecutors want a judge to order a psychiatric exam for the woman accused of trying to extort $10 million from University of Louisville basketball coach Rick Pitino.

In a motion filed Friday, prosecutors say Karen Cunagin Sypher ((pictured, Bill Luster/Louisville Courier-Journal)) may be "so mentally incompetent" that she doesn't understand the legal proceedings or cannot assist in her own defense.

Cunagin Sypher has pleaded not guilty to federal charges of trying to extort money from Pitino and lying to the FBI. She is accused of demanding college tuition for her children, her house to be paid off and $10 million.

Prosecutors have also asked a judge to order Cunagin Sypher and her attorney not to make public evidence turned over in the case.

James Earhart, Cunagin Sypher's attorney, said he could not comment on the exam motion because he had not yet seen it.

Andrew Wolfson's coverage in the Louisville Courier-Journal is in black...