Man who allegedly texted Guthrie family about bitcoin ransom torched in court by prosecutors

The Los Angeles man who allegedly tried to scam the aggrieved family of Savannah Guthrie with ransom note text messages was slammed in court as an opportunist who tried to capitalize on the family’s trauma.

Derrick Callella, 42, appeared before a SoCal judge Friday where prosecutors held little back.

Callella “learned of a family with a horrific trauma and saw that as an opportunity for personal gain,” said prosecutors during the hearing.

Callella, unshaven and wearing a black top with pajama-style pants showed little emotion during the hearing, but crossed himself in a religious gesture several times. He answered basic questions from the judge during the hearing, but appeared emotionless.

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It was also learned in court that Callella has three minor children, his defense called the text messages an isolated incident. He did not enter a plea.

He will be released on a $20,000 bond to his retiree mother, Michelle, who makes just $35,000 a year in retirement and social security. Callella will be subject to computer searches and must only maintain one cellphone.

Callella is accused of sending bogus ransom texts regarding Nancy Guthrie, the missing mom of NBC “Today” co-host Savannah, who was last seen at her Tucson, Az. home on the night of Jan. 31.

Guthrie, 84, has been the subject of a frantic manhunt since police discovered blood on her porch, a disabled home security system and a severed pacemaker connection.

Investigators believe she may have been kidnapped or killed.

Callella was charged with federal crimes including transmitting a demand for ransom in interstate commerce, and utilizing a telecommunications device with the intent to abuse, threaten, or harass a person.

If convicted, he faces fines, time in prison, or both.

Callella on Wednesday texted his phony ransom note to Guthrie’s daughter Annie and son-in-law Tommaso Cioni, who live near Guthrie’s house in Tucson, according to a criminal complaint filed in Arizona federal court on Thursday.

“Did you get the bitcoin were [sic] waiting on our end for the transaction,” Callella allegedly said in text messages sent to both.

Three minutes later, Callella called an unidentified Guthrie family member, according to the court docs, which didn’t name the relative Callella allegedly called.

The documents didn’t disclose what was said on the call.

Callella made his alleged play for a fake ransom payout just on the same day Savannah and her siblings published an heartbreaking video calling on whoever allegedly abducted their mother to send proof of life.

Gutherie’s distraught relatives reported the terrifying texts to law enforcement, leading officers to link the ransom request’s phone number to Callella’s home in Los Angeles, court documents said.

Callella’s alleged ransom request hasn’t been tied to other ransom notes for Guthrie sent to news outlets earlier in the week. Those ransom requests sought millions of dollars in bitcoin for the safe return of Guthrie to her family.

Federal agents collared Callella Thursday in the South Bay city of Hawthorne, according to a statement issued Thursday by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

U.S. Attorney Timothy Courchaine said the case against Callella came together in less than 24 hours, leading to Callella’s prompt capture. “Grief profiteers will be held accountable,” Courchaine said.

Callella was charged in October with stealing almost $10,000 in unemployment benefits between May 6, 2020, and Jan. 20, 2022, while serving as a case department of health services intermediate clerk in LA County. 

He was one of 13 County workers who were charged with felony grand theft for stealing a combined $437,383 in state unemployment benefits between 2020 and 2023, according to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office.

FBI Phoenix Special Agent in Charge Heith Janke had a message for anybody trying to scam the Gutherie clan.

“To those imposters who are trying to take advantage and profit from this situation – we will investigate and ensure you are held accountable for your actions,” Janke said.