A California man accused of sending a fake bitcoin ransom demand to the family of missing Tucson grandmother Nancy Guthrie pleaded guilty Thursday, July 2, in federal court.
Derrick Callella, 42, of Hawthorne, California, pleaded guilty to two counts of harassment using a telecommunication device, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Arizona. Callella admitted he texted and called two of Guthrie's family members on Feb. 4, asking about a bitcoin transfer, and acknowledged he already knew an earlier ransom demand had been made.
Prosecutors said his actions were meant to harass the family by extracting information about the investigation. He was arrested within days of Guthrie's disappearance and had been free on $20,000 bond, barred from applying for a passport.
Sentencing is scheduled for Sept. 10 before U.S. District Judge John C. Hinderaker; Callella was also set to report to a residential addiction treatment facility.
The plea comes just days after questions arose about the validity of ransom notes tied to the Guthrie case, with Reuters reporting federal investigators deemed three kidnapping-related messages fake.
Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos warned that anyone considering sending a similar hoax should reconsider, noting the FBI has already made several arrests over fraudulent notes in the case.
Nancy Guthrie, 84, mother of Today co-anchor Savannah Guthrie, has been missing since February 1 from her Tucson home in a case the sheriff's department has classified as a homicide investigation. No suspect has been named in her disappearance. Through five months without answers, the Guthrie family's faith has remained a public constant - Savannah recently telling viewers, "We feel your prayers," a reminder that hope, for this family, is still holding.
Anyone with information is urged to contact the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI or Tucson's 88-Crime tip line at 520-882-7463.
Related Article: Nancy Guthrie Case: FBI Says Some Ransom Notes May Be Real After All, Contradicting Earlier Report
