Karen Cunagin Sypher

Karen Sypher sentenced to 7 years for extorting Rick Pitino

LOUISVILLE — Calling her crime "brazen," a federal judge sentenced Karen Cunagin Sypher Friday to seven years and three months in prison for trying to extort cash, cars and other payments from University of Louisville basketball coach Rick Pitino.

U.S. District Judge Charles R. Simpson III also ordered Sypher, 50, to serve two years of supervised release. He told Sypher to have no contact with Pitino or his family during her release.

Simpson called Sypher's crime a "serious offense."

"It was brazen," the judge said. "It was driven apparently by sheer greed." ( Read Karen Cunagin Sypher more... )

Karen Cunagin Sypher sentenced

LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- A woman was sentenced Friday to more than seven years in prison for threatening to reveal a sexual tryst with Louisville basketball coach Rick Pitino unless he paid her millions in cash, luxury cars and a house.

Karen Cunagin Sypher cried intermittently and gave a short, incoherent statement during Friday's hearing 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. ( Read Karen Cunagin Sypher more... )

Sypher sentenced 7 years in Pitino case

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP)—The woman convicted of threatening to reveal a sexualtryst with basketball coach Rick Pitino unless he paid her millions in cash,luxury cars and a house was sentenced Friday to more than seven years in prison.

Karen Cunagin Sypher cried intermittently and gave a short, incoherentstatement during Friday’s hearing before being sentenced to 87 months in prisonby U.S. District Judge Charles R. Simpson III. He also ordered two years ofsupervised release after she serves her prison term.

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

Simpson called the crime “sheer greed and a desire for money and otheraccoutrements for a lifestyle for which the defendant desired.” ( Read Karen Cunagin Sypher more... )

Sypher sentenced to 87 months, allowed to remain free on bond

LOUISVILLE, KY (WAVE) - After two delays and months of waiting, 50-year-old Karen Cunagin Sypher was sentenced in federal court Friday to 87 months (7 years, 3 months) in prison for attempting to extort money from UofL basketball coach Rick Pitino. After hearing her sentence, Sypher, who must also serve two years of supervised release, was allowed to remian free on bond.

U.S. District Judge Charles Simpson III handed down that sentence several hours after the proceedings began at 1:30 p.m., after refusing to delay sentencing for a third time. Sypher's new attorney, David Nolan, had filed a second motion asking for another trial, claiming a wide-ranging conspiracy involving Pitino, Judge Charles Simpson, and several others involved in the case. ( Read Karen Cunagin Sypher more... )

Karen Sypher Sentenced in Rick Pitino Case

LOS ANGELES (LALATE) – Karen Sypher aka Karen Cunagin Sypher (photos below) was sentenced today in the Rick Pitino extortion case. Karen Cunagin Sypher was indicted two years ago; now after multiple motions for a new trial, Sypher was sentenced to 87 months.

U.S. District Judge Charles R. Simpson III didn’t give the sentencing that Cunagin nor prosecutors had sought. The government had asked for her immediate incarceration and upwards of nine years imprisonment. Cunagin had asked for no prison time. But after sentencing was announced, one of Cunagin’s son in the courthouse told news that the sentence is “a nightmare”. ( Read Karen Cunagin Sypher more... )

Courtesy : USA Today , ESPN , NCAA Daily , Wave 3 & Lalate