Karen Sypher Sentenced to Seven Years in Prison in Rick Pitino Extortion Case

Filed under: Louisville, Police Blotter

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) -- A judge has sentenced a woman convicted of threatening to reveal a sexual tryst with Louisville basketball coach Rick Pitino unless he paid her millions to more than seven years in prison.

Karen Cunagin Sypher sobbed during a hearing Friday before being sentenced to 87 months in prison by U.S. District Judge Charles R. Simpson III. He also ordered two years of supervised release after she serves her prison term.

Sypher was convicted in August of extortion, lying to the FBI and retaliation against a witness. The case centered on evidence that Sypher tried to get Pitino to pay her to keep silent about their one-night stand at a Louisville restaurant in 2003.

A jury convicted Sypher in August of extortion, lying to the FBI and retaliation against a witness. The charges carried a maximum sentence of 26 years, but federal sentencing guidelines called for a shorter term.

Source: http://ncaabasketball.fanhouse.com/2011/02/18/karen-sypher-sentenced-to-more-than-seven-years-in-prison/

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