{"id":2624467,"date":"2026-07-05T14:19:00","date_gmt":"2026-07-05T18:19:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/california-man-pleads-guilty-to-harassing-guthrie-family-with-fake-ransom-notes\/"},"modified":"2026-07-05T14:20:40","modified_gmt":"2026-07-05T18:20:40","slug":"california-man-pleads-guilty-to-harassing-guthrie-family-with-fake-ransom-notes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/california-man-pleads-guilty-to-harassing-guthrie-family-with-fake-ransom-notes\/","title":{"rendered":"California Man Pleads Guilty to Harassing Guthrie Family With Fake Ransom Notes"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"float:left\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">24<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fcalifornia-man-pleads-guilty-to-harassing-guthrie-family-with-fake-ransom-notes%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2624467&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>A man from california pleaded guilty to <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >making fake ransom demands related<\/a> to teh disappearance of Nancy Guthrie, an 84-year-old woman taken from her Tucson, Arizona home. Derrick Callella, aged 42, admitted to calling and texting Guthrie\u2019s family, requesting Bitcoin transfers and attempting to harass them while seeking inquiry details about her disappearance. The messages were part of a fraudulent effort to intimidate the family, despite <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/airliner-forced-down-to-arrest-anti-lukashenko-activist\/\" title=\"Airliner Forced Down to Arrest Anti-Lukashenko Activist\">initial reports suggesting<\/a> a ransom note was credible, authorities later persistent they were not. Callella faces up to two years in prison and a $250,000 fine but was sentenced to five years of probation. his sentencing is scheduled for September 10. The FBI and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/california-safeway-fortifies-store-to-address-shoplifting-surge\/\" title=\"California Safeway Fortifies Store to Address Shoplifting\u00a0Surge\">local law enforcement continue<\/a> to investigate and monitor ransom notes related to Guthrie\u2019s case, which have so far been found to be false or extortion attempts.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><br \/>\n<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC \"-\/\/W3C\/\/DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional\/\/EN\" \"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/TR\/REC-html40\/loose.dtd\"><br \/>\n<?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><html><body><\/p>\n<section> \t\t\t\t<script>console.log(\"ad slot (AC1)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC1)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC2)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC3)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC4)\")<\/script><\/p>\n<p>A California man pleaded guilty Thursday to charges he made fake ransom demands to the family of Nancy Guthrie.<\/p>\n<p>The 84-year-old Guthrie was taken from her Tucson, Arizona, home on Feb. 1. Police have been unable to determine who took her.<\/p>\n<p>Derrick Callella, 42, of Los Angeles, pleaded guilty to two counts of harassment by telecommunications device, according to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.reuters.com\/legal\/government\/california-man-admits-sending-fake-ransom-notes-nancy-guthrie-abduction-2026-07-02\/?taid=6a46fdeac097b900019dbd7f\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Reuters<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIn his plea, Callella admitted that he called and sent text messages to a missing person\u2019s family on Feb. 4, 2026, which asked about a bitcoin transfer,\u201d the Justice Department said in a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.justice.gov\/usao-az\/pr\/california-man-pleads-guilty-harassment-connection-ransom-demand\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">news release<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cCallella acknowledged that he knew an earlier ransom demand had been made. Callella also admitted that his actions were meant to harass the family by seeking information about the investigation into the missing person\u2019s disappearance,\u201d the release said.<\/p>\n<p>The maximum penalty in the charges is two years in prison and a $250,000 fine.<\/p>\n<p>The agreement to which Callella pleaded guilty sentences him to five years on probation, Reuters reported.<\/p>\n<p>Callella will be sentenced on Sept. 10.<\/p>\n<p>Callella texted Nancy Guthrie\u2019s oldest daughter, Annie, and her son-in-law, Tommaso Cion, on Feb. 4, according to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.kold.com\/2026\/07\/02\/man-pleads-guilty-writing-imposter-ransom-note-nancy-guthrie-case\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">KOLD-TV<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>He also made a nine-second call to a family member.<\/p>\n<p>The message sent read, \u201cDid you get the bitcoin were (sic) waiting on our end for the transaction.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe FBI takes these notes extremely seriously. They track them down, and if they find it to be fraudulent, they don\u2019t just put it aside; they will arrest you, they have made arrests, I think they\u2019ve made two or three arrests already,\u201d Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos said.<\/p>\n<p>Nanos added that fake notes only make the investigation harder.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cEven if they\u2019re playing a game, I don\u2019t know what mind that is, that says this is what I want to do \u2014 don\u2019t do it,\u201d Nanos said.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cCallella also admitted that his actions were meant \u200bto harass the family by \u200bseeking information about the \u2060investigation into the missing person\u2019s disappearance,\u201d a U.S. Attorney\u2019s Office statement said, according to Reuters.<\/p>\n<p>Although TMZ last week reported it received a ransom note, an FBI official told Reuters it was determined not to be credible.<\/p>\n<p>In a <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/FBIPhoenix\/status\/2072451468766941575\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">post on X<\/a>, the FBI field office in Phoenix said it had received \u201cseveral ransom notes\u201d since Guthrie disappeared.<\/p>\n<p>Many have been ruled out as \u201cextortion attempts without legitimacy,\u201d while others are being investigated.<\/p>\n<div style=\"background-color: #f7f7f7; color: #171717; display: flex;font-size: 16px;font-weight: 600;line-height: 1.5;margin: 24px 0;padding: 18px 20px 18px 30px;text-align: left;\">\n<div style=\"align-self: stretch;border-left: 3px solid #171717;flex-shrink: 0;padding-left: 20px;\"><\/div>\n<p><a style=\"text-decoration: none;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/preferences\/source?q=https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/\">Choose The Western Journal as your preferred source on Google and never miss reporting that defends truth, protects freedom, and advances Western civilization<\/a><\/div>\n<p style=\"border: 1px solid #f5f5f5; padding: 16px;\">Advertise with The Western Journal and reach millions of highly engaged readers, while supporting our work. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/advertise-us\/?wj_source=article\">Advertise Today<\/a>.<\/p>\n<div style=\"position: relative;\">\n<div class=\"ff-fancy-header-container\"> \t\t\t \t<\/div>\n<div class=\"entry-submit-correction inner-content\">\n<div class=\"correction-form\">\n<form style=\"display: none;\">\n<div class=\"sc-name-field\"> \t\t\t\t\t\t<label>* Name<\/label> \t\t\t\t\t\t<br \/> \t\t\t\t\t\t<input type=\"text\" name=\"name\" required> \t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<div class=\"sc--field\"> \t\t\t\t\t\t<label>* <\/label> \t\t\t\t\t\t<br \/> \t\t\t\t\t\t<input type=\"text\" name=\"\" required> \t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<p> \t\t\t\t\t<label>* Message<\/label> \t\t\t\t\t<br \/> \t\t\t\t\t<textarea name=\"message\" required><\/textarea> \t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<div class=\"required-message\" style=\"display: none; padding-bottom: 15px;\">* All fields are required.<\/div>\n<p> \t\t\t\t\t<input type=\"submit\" value=\"Submit\" onclick=\"event.preventDefault(); firefly_sc();\"> \t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<div class=\"firefly-sc-confirm\" style=\"display: none;\">Success!<\/div>\n<\/p><\/form>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p> \t\t<script> \t\t\tfunction firefly_sc() { \t\t\t\tif( typeof window.captchaPublicKey == typeof undefined ){ \t\t\t\t\tconsole.error('window.captchaPublicKey is not defined'); \t\t\t\t} \t\t\t\tgrecaptcha.execute( window.captchaPublicKey, { action: 'submit_correction' } ).then( function( token ) { \t\t\t\t\tvar opts = { \t\t\t\t\t\taction:    'firefly_sc_submit', \t\t\t\t\t\tname:      document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"name\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\t:     document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\tmessage:   document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"message\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\tpost_id:   firefly_post_id, \t\t\t\t\t\tcap_token: token \t\t\t\t\t}  \t\t\t\t\tvar inputs = [ 'name', '', 'message' ];  \t\t\t\t\tfor( var i = 0; i < inputs.length; i++ ) if( ! 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