Rick Pitino says he is the target of an extortion attempt and the Louisville coach has asked the FBI to investigate.
"I intend to vigorously defend my reputation and the character of my family against any criminal scheme to extort money," Pitino said in a statement.
Attorney Thomas Clay contacted the Louisville Courier-Journal Saturday night and said he represents the woman who is under FBI investigation.
"He declined to provide details of her claims or to identify her, but when told that WDRB 41 had named her as Karen Sypher, the wife of U of L basketball equipment manager Tim Sypher, he said he did not 'take issue' with that." according to the newspaper.
"There is a federal investigation going on, and there may be criminal charges placed against her as a result of what coach Pitino has brought to the attention of the FBI. . . . There are no counter allegations, and as far as I am concerned this criminal investigation is going to proceed to a logical conclusion and I hope that we can put this matter behind us as quickly as possible," Clay said.
Clay acknowledged his client had been interviewed by the FBI.
Update: Tim Sypher, who has been Louisville's equipment manager for eight seasons, released a statement Sunday saying that he is estranged from his wife, Karen. Here calls her allegations "bizarre" and notes they are against him as well as against Pitino. He also said he intends to defend himself against the allegations.
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