Karen Cunagin Sypher, the 51-year-old woman convicted of trying to extort Louisville basketball and former Celtic coach Rick Pitino, is appealing her seven-year prison term.

Sypher was convicted in February of extortion, lying to the FBI and retaliation against a witness. The prosecution said Sypher had sought millions in cash, cars and a house from Pitino in order to keep a Louisiana sexual encounter between the two secret. Pitino admitted to the encounter in court, saying it was consensual.

Sypher’s attorney filed with the 6th Circuit Court of Appeals, claiming a conspiracy against Sypher involving Pitino, her former attorney and the federal trial judge. Charles Simpson, the U.S. District Judge from Louisville, had already rejected this same conspiracy claim.

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