Louisville coach Rick Pitino filed a complaint with the FBI in March that he was a target in an extortion scheme. The woman associated with the investigation is the estranged wife of Tim Sypher, who is a member of Pitino’s staff and a longtime friend. Pitino did not want the matter to become public, but he said he felt the need to tell his side of the story after learning that the woman had gone to the press, according to a USA Today report.
“I recently learned that the individual behind this extortion attempt has already gone to the media with false, defamatory and outrageous allegations in an attempt to pressure me to cave in to this scheme,” Pitino said.
Attorney Thomas Clay, who represents Karen Sypher, told the AP his client was contacted by the FBI after Pitino filed a complaint last month that he was being targeted for extortion.
“I can’t be more specific than they talked to her,” Clay said. “Yes, there could be a criminal prosecution.”
