California man pleads guilty to fake ransom note

A California man pleaded guilty on Thursday, July 2, to federal charges for sending a fake ransom note to the family of Nancy Guthrie, an 84-year-old Arizona woman who has been missing for five months. Derrick Callella, 42, of Torrance, California, admitted to transmitting a demand for ransom in interstate commerce and using a telecommunications device to harass the family.

Callella sent text messages in early February to Guthrie's oldest daughter, Annie, and her son-in-law, Tommaso Cioni. The message read, "Did you get the bitcoin were waiting on our end for the transaction." According to investigators, the messages were sent shortly after the family released a public video pleading for information and offering to pay for Guthrie's release. Authorities said Callella used an internet phone application to disguise his number, but the FBI traced the account to an email address linked to him, leading to his arrest.

In court, Callella acknowledged his actions were intended to harass the family by seeking information about the investigation into Guthrie's disappearance. He also admitted to knowing that a prior ransom demand had been made. During the hearing, prosecutors noted...