L.a. County 'imposter' Demanded The Guthries Pay Bitcoin Ransom For Mother's Return, Authorities Allege - Beritaja

A Los Angeles County man was arrested aft he sent “imposter” ransom messages to the family of “Today” co-host Savannah Guthrie, whose mother remains missing from her Arizona location in a suspected abduction, national officials said Thursday.

“To those imposters who are trying to return advantage and profit from this situation, we will analyse and guarantee you are held accountable for your actions,” Heith Janke, typical supplier successful complaint of the FBI’s Phoenix division, said astatine a news conference. He said Thursday’s apprehension was made aft investigators tracked down an “imposter ransom demand,” which was unrelated to a abstracted ransom missive received by news outlets that officials are taking seriously.

Guthrie and her siblings this week addressed the suspected abductor in a tearful video, asking them to scope retired straight and supply immoderate impervious of life of their mother, 84-year-old Nancy Guthrie.

After that affectional video was posted and publicized, authorities opportunity Derrick Callella, of Hawthorne, sent messages to Guthrie family members.

“Did you get the bitcoin were [sic] waiting connected our extremity for the transaction,” publication the connection sent to astatine slightest 2 family members, according to the national criminal title revenge successful Arizona.

Callella, 42, is accused of utilizing a sound complete net protocol (VOIP) matter and telephone exertion to surreptitiously scope retired to the family, but authorities were capable to nexus the telephone number to his email reside and, later, his residence, according to the complaint.

According to information reviewed by authorities, Callella texted the family doubly and called them astatine slightest once.

The title said Callella later admitted to sending the 2 matter messages.

“The Department of Justice will protect victims and families astatine each costs, and condolences profiteers will beryllium held accountable,” Arizona U.S. Atty. Timothy Courchaine wrote successful a statement. “This lawsuit came together successful nether 24 hours because of the coordinated activity of the FBI, section rule enforcement and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California.”

Callella has been arrested connected suspicion of transmitting a request for ransom successful interstate commerce, and without disclosing his identity, utilizing a telecommunications instrumentality pinch the intent to abuse, threaten, aliases harass a person.

He was taken into custody Thursday successful L.A. County and will look earlier a national magistrate judge morning, according to a spokesperson for U.S. attorney’s agency successful Los Angeles.

According to national officials, he is the aforesaid individual who was charged pinch unemployment fraud successful October by the Los Angeles County territory attorney’s office, accused on pinch 12 others of moving for the region while besides filing for — and receiving — unemployment benefits during the COVID-19 pandemic. He appeared successful authorities tribunal for a preliminary proceeding successful that lawsuit Wednesday, according to tribunal records, the time he is accused of sending the texts to the Guthries.

A lawyer representing him successful that lawsuit declined to remark erstwhile reached by The Times Thursday afternoon. She said she had not been contacted by national authorities about the national case.