California Man Gets 5 Years Probation for Fake Ransom Texts in Nancy Guthrie Case
Derrick Callella, 42, was sentenced after sending fraudulent bitcoin ransom texts to the family of missing 84-year-old Nancy Guthrie of Tucson, Arizona.
California Man Sentenced for Fake Ransom Texts to Family of Missing Tucson Woman
A California man will serve five years on probation for sending fraudulent ransom messages to the family of Nancy Guthrie, an 84-year-old Tucson woman who has been missing for seven months, Courthouse News Service reports.
Derrick Anthony Callella, 42, texted Guthrie's family members just two days after she was reported missing — not to demand a ransom in earnest, but, by his own admission, "to see if the family would respond." He had followed the case in the news and was aware of earlier ransom notes, sent by unknown parties, that requested bitcoin payment.
Callella pleaded guilty in July. In a sentencing memorandum filed a week before his Monday hearing, he attributed his conduct in part to methamphetamine addiction, writing that the substance "removed his inhibitions and his capacity for clear decision making." He told his probation officer he intends to be "addicted to his recovery" going forward.
He had tested positive for methamphetamine the morning of his July 2 guilty plea and was ordered into a residential treatment facility by a magistrate judge.
His memo argued that five years of structured supervision — incorporating treatment, drug testing, and mental health services — would give him the support he needs while allowing the court and probation officer sufficient time to confirm he remains law-abiding.
Texts Reached 'Today' Show Host Savannah Guthrie
Among those who received Callella's messages were "Today" show host Savannah Guthrie and her husband. The texts came from a random number and asked, "Did you get the bitcoin?" — a reference to the earlier ransom notes already forwarded to the FBI. About three minutes after sending those texts, Callella called another family member, staying on the line for only nine seconds before hanging up.
To obscure his identity, Callella obtained a new number through a VoIP service. He undermined his own effort, however, by registering the associated email account under his full name. The FBI used that detail, along with his IP address, to trace him to his California residence. Callella has emphasized he had no actual involvement in Guthrie's disappearance.
Concurrent Felony Sentences
U.S. District Judge John C. Hinderaker, presiding in a Tucson federal courtroom on Monday, imposed the lightest sentence within the recommended range. Callella will serve two concurrent five-year probation terms — one for each count of harassment using a telecommunications device, both classified as Class E felonies.
Nancy Guthrie Still Missing After Seven Months
Nancy Guthrie was first reported missing on February 1, after family members learned she had not appeared at her regular church service. Investigators found that the Ring camera at her Tucson home had been disconnected at 1:47 a.m. that morning. FBI-released footage from the doorbell camera shows a masked individual in a ski mask tampering with the device before the video cuts out.
At 2:28 a.m., Guthrie's pacemaker lost its connection to her phone app. Her family says she has limited mobility and depends on life-sustaining medications. A trail of blood on the porch matched her DNA, and many of her personal belongings — including her cellphone — were left at the home.
Days after her disappearance, a local CBS affiliate received a ransom note through an online tip portal that included a bitcoin wallet address. The station passed the note to the FBI, which has disclosed few specifics about that message or subsequent notes received by other media outlets. A more recent note claiming Guthrie had died was determined by the FBI to be fake; the bureau says it is still investigating some of the other ransom communications as potentially legitimate.
Law enforcement has named no suspects in Guthrie's disappearance. The FBI has established a tip line and is offering a $50,000 reward for information leading to her safe return.
Separate Fraud Charges in Los Angeles
Callella faces additional legal trouble unrelated to the Guthrie case. Authorities in Los Angeles County charged him in October with grand theft after he allegedly collected $9,984 in unemployment benefits between May 2020 and January 2022 while employed by the county. He was arraigned in November. Callella is one of 13 former county employees accused of collectively obtaining approximately $430,000 through fraudulent claims submitted to the California Employment Development Department.
Source: Courthouse News Service