NewsNBC Los Angeles (KNBC) – LocalJuly 2, 2026United States
Hawthorne Man Pleads Guilty to Harassing Savannah Guthrie's Family
Derrick Callella, 42, pleaded guilty in federal court to two counts of harassment after sending false ransom-related messages to the family of 'TODAY' show co-host Savannah Guthrie. The messages, which demanded bitcoin, were sent while authorities were actively searching for Guthrie's 84-year-old mother, Nancy Guthrie, who went missing from her Arizona home on February 1.
Read the full story at NBC Los Angeles (KNBC) – LocalWhy It Matters
The case highlights the legal consequences for individuals who attempt to exploit families of missing persons through extortion, with the defendant facing up to two years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
Key Facts
- Derrick Callella pleaded guilty to two counts of harassment in federal court on Thursday, February 5.
- Callella admitted to sending text messages to the Guthrie family on February 4 demanding bitcoin.
- The defendant faces a maximum penalty of two years in prison, a $250,000 fine, and one year of supervised release.
- Sentencing for Callella is scheduled for September.
- Nancy Guthrie, 84, was reported missing from her Arizona home on February 1.
- The FBI is currently evaluating some ransom-related messages as legitimate while discounting others as extortion attempts.