Federal Jury in Louisville Convicts Karen Cunagin Sypher in Connection with $10 Million Extortion Attempt of Richard Pitino
LOUISVILLE—A federal jury today convicted 50-year-old Karen Cunagin Sypher of attempting to extort $10 million from University of Louisville men’s head basketball coach Rick Pitino, announced U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Kentucky David J. Hale and Elizabeth A. Fries, Special Agent in Charge, Kentucky Office of the FBI. Following eight days of trial, the jury convicted Sypher 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.