Derrick Callella

Derrick Callella of California pleaded guilty to sending a fake ransom note to Nancy Guthrie's family, demanding a bitcoin payment. He faces up to two years in prison or a $250,000 fine. Nancy Guthrie, 84, was last seen on January 31 at her Arizona residence, where her belongings and blood drops were found.

A California man pleaded guilty to sending a fake ransom note to Nancy Guthrie’s family, demanding a bitcoin transaction. He faces up to two years in prison or a $250,000 fine. Nancy Guthrie, 84, was last seen on January 31 at her Arizona residence, where authorities found her cellphone, medication, and blood drops near the porch.

Derrick Callella, a California man, pleaded guilty to sending a fake ransom note to Nancy Guthrie’s family via text and a VoIP phone line. He was charged with transmitting a ransom demand in interstate commerce and using a telecommunications device to harass. Callella will receive 10 years’ probation and is scheduled for sentencing on Sept. 10.

Derrick Callella pleaded guilty to writing a fake ransom note in the Nancy Guthrie case, admitting to charges of transmitting a ransom demand in interstate commerce and using a telecommunications device to harass. He will receive 10 years’ probation and sentencing is scheduled for Sept. 10.

A man pleaded guilty to writing a fake ransom note in the Nancy Guthrie case, admitting to transmitting ransom demands via VoIP and harassment. He was sentenced to 10 years' probation and will be formally sentenced on Sept. 10. The messages referenced Bitcoin and were sent after the Guthrie family's first video message to kidnappers.