LOUISVILLE, KY. (AP) - A federal judge says the woman convicted of trying to extort Louisville basketball coach Rick Pitino out of millions of dollars has not produced any new evidence and will not get a new trial.
U.S. District Judge Charles R. Simpson III wrote Wednesday that claims by Karen Cunagin Sypher of newly discovered evidence are merely compilations of items her previous attorney had during her trial. Simpson also turned down a claim that Sypher’s former attorney, James Earhart of Louisville, was ineffective.
Sypher was convicted in August of extortion, lying to the FBI and retaliation against a witness. Prosecutors said she sought millions in cash, cars and a house from Pitino to stay quiet about their one-night stand at a Louisville restaurant in 2003. She is scheduled for sentencing Feb. 18.
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