A Los Angeles County man was arrested after he sent “imposter” ransom messages to the family of “Today” co-host Savannah Guthrie, whose mother remains missing from her Arizona home in a suspected abduction, federal officials said Thursday.
“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,” Heith Janke, special agent in charge of the FBI’s Phoenix division, said at a news conference.
Derrick Callella, of Hawthorne, was arrested Thursday after federal authorities say he sent “imposter” ransom messages to the family of Savannah Guthrie.
“Did you get the bitcoin we were waiting on for the transaction,” read the message sent to at least two family members, according to the federal criminal complaint filed in Arizona.
Callella, 42, is accused of using a voice over internet protocol text and call application to surreptitiously reach out to the family, but authorities were able to link the phone number to his email address and, later, his residence, according to the complaint.
Callella has been arrested on suspicion of transmitting a demand for ransom in interstate commerce, and without disclosing his identity, utilizing a telecommunications device with the intent to abuse, threaten or harass a person.
He was taken into custody Thursday in L.A. County and will appear before a federal magistrate judge in the morning, according to a spokesperson for the U.S. attorney’s office in Los Angeles.
This case came together in under 24 hours because of the coordinated work of the FBI, local law enforcement and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California.
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