A man with a history of financial crimes, including theft and embezzlement, has been apprehended for sending a fake ransom message to Nancy Guthrie’s daughter.

Authorities took Derrick Callella into custody on Thursday after he allegedly sent a hoax Bitcoin demand to Annie Guthrie and her husband, Tommaso Cioni.

Officials disclosed that Callella had previously been implicated in a 2023 embezzlement operation. This scheme involved 13 Los Angeles County employees who reportedly misappropriated over $430,000 in unemployment benefits.

The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s office confirmed to The Daily Mail that Callella is indeed the same individual arrested for the fraudulent text messages.

On February 4, Callella allegedly texted Annie and Cioni, saying, “Did you get the bitcoin were [sic] waiting on our end for the transaction.”

Shortly after, he made a brief nine-second phone call to a member of Nancy’s family, according to the criminal complaint.

He contacted the family shortly after Today Show host Savannah Guthrie, Annie and their brother Camron posted a video to Instagram begging for their mother’s return.

Callella allegedly admitted to sending the messages and told investigators he was ‘just trying to see if the family would respond. 

Derrick Callella, pictured, allegedly sent two texts to Savannah Guthrie’s sister and brother-in-law demanding Bitcoin in return for the release of Nancy Guthrie 

The man arrested for sending the fake ransom demand to Nancy Guthrie’s daughter Annie and son-in-law Tommaso Cioni has a criminal past

Derrick Callella was arrested Thursday for sending the fake ransom demand to the Today Show star’s sister and husband

Callella, who worked as an intermediate clerk for the county’s department of health services, allegedly took $9,984 in benefits from May 6, 2020 to January 20, 2022.

The scheme involved the defendants allegedly submitting fake unemployment insurance claims which misrepresented how much money they made during several two week periods. 

Each employee was collecting over $600 a week, making them ineligible for said benefits. Another 11 former employees were charged in the scheme in December.  

Callella was arraigned on a felony count of grand theft and a misdemeanor this past November. He’s due back in court in Los Angeles on March 31.

He now faces more charges 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, prosecutors said. 

FBI Special Agent Heith Janke announced the arrest of the imposter during a press briefing Thursday afternoon. 

‘We have made one arrest related to an imposter ransom demand, and the complaint will be presented at the state judge later today,’ Janke told reporters. 

‘My next message is 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.’

It is not believed his alleged demand is linked to ransom letters sent in connection with the suspected kidnapping. 

At least three media organizations have reported receiving purported ransom notes that have been handed over to investigators. The Pima County Sheriff’s Department has said it was taking the notes and other tips seriously but declined to comment further.

Savannah Guthrie (left) and her family were sent a fake ransom note in connection to the disappearance of her mother Nancy Guthrie (right)

Janke said that one of the reported ransom notes has a deadline of 5pm today. He added that the note had a second deadline for next Monday. 

‘So we are continuing in a normal kidnapping case; there would be contact by now, trying to discuss that,’ Janke said.

‘But those are the time frames we’re looking at as we move forward.’

Investigators are taking the ransom note seriously, said Janke, who noted it included a demand for money with a deadline along with details about a flood light at the home and an Apple watch. 

A note emailed Monday to the KOLD-TV newsroom in Tucson included ‘red flags’ that have led those who saw it to believe it ‘might not be a hoax’, anchor Mary Coleman told CNN.

She said the note contained information that only the abductor would know. It also included a dollar amount and a deadline, she said. 

‘When we saw some of those details, it was clear after a couple of sentences that this might not be a hoax,’ she said in an interview aired Wednesday.

Nancy was last seen by her family at her house near Tucson, Arizona, on Saturday night and was reported missing the following afternoon, with authorities believing she was taken from her home against her will.

NEW from Daily Mail. We take you inside the kidnap case shocking America. Out now on all podcast platforms. Listen here 

Officials say Nancy, 84, is frail and has poor mobility, and suffers from a condition that requires her to take medication daily

Nancy Guthrie was last seen by her family at her house near Tucson, Arizona, on Saturday night and was reported missing the following afternoon. Investigators have confirmed that blood found outside her front door matches Nancy’s DNA

Authorities are offering a $50,000 award for information that leads to the capture of Nancy’s abductor, four days after she was taken.

A note sent to TMZ demanded millions in Bitcoin for Nancy’s release, but it is currently unclear if the note is genuine. 

Investigators believe Nancy is ‘still out there,’ but they have not identified any suspects, Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos said Thursday.  

‘Right now, we believe Nancy is still out there. We want her home,’ Nanos said at a news conference five days after she was reported missing.

The sheriff, however, acknowledged that authorities have no proof she is still alive. 

He also revealed that DNA tests showed that the blood found on Nancy’s porch has come back a match to her. 

Janke, during the same press briefing, addressed Nancy’s abductors directly. 

‘This is an 84‑year‑old grandma that needs vital medication for her well‑being,’ he said. ‘You still have the time to do the right thing before this becomes a worse, much worse scenario for you. Please return Nancy home.’

The FBI agent added that Guthrie family is ready to speak with their mother’s captors.

‘The family wants to be contacted. They know time is of the essence, and if those who may have Nancy are watching this, the family is ready to talk, get proof of life because there has been no contact since that ransom note,’ he said.

FBI Special Agent Heith Janke announced during a press conference Thursday that one person has been arrested for sending a fake ransom demand

Blood was spotted on the walkway of Nancy’s $1million Tucson, Arizona home

A day earlier, Savannah and her siblings released an emotional message to her 84-year-old mother’s kidnapper, but there has been no public sign of a response.

The Today Show host said her family is ready to talk but wants proof their mom is still alive. In the heart-wrenching video posted on social media Wednesday, Guthrie acknowledged hearing media reports about a ransom letter.

‘We are ready to talk. However, we live in a world where voices and images are easily manipulated,’ Savannah said while reading from a prepared statement. 

‘We need to know without a doubt that she is alive and that you have her. We want to hear from you and we are ready to listen. Please reach out to us.’