Woman indicted with trying to extort coach Pitino

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — A woman accused of trying to extort money from Louisville basketball coach Rick Pitino has been indicted.

A federal grand jury on Tuesday indicted Karen Cunagin (KOON’-ah-gen) Sypher (SY’-fur) on charges of extortion and lying to the FBI. Sypher is the estranged wife of Louisville equipment manager Tim Sypher.

A criminal complaint says Tim Sypher brought Pitino a written list of demands from his wife including a house, cars and money. It says she wanted college tuition for her children, two cars, her house paid off and $3,000 per month.

The complaint says those demands were later withdrawn when she asked for $10 million instead.

It isn’t clear why she was demanding the money. Court documents say Pitino believed it was related to a 2003 encounter.