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Man pleads guilty in Redskins quarterback extortion case

Posted at 8:44 PM, Sep 27, 2012
and last updated 2012-09-27 20:44:34-04

By Carol Cratty, CNN Senior Producer

WASHINGTON (CNN) – A Waco, Texas, man pleaded guilty on Thursday to attempting to extort money from Robert Griffin III, the new quarterback of the Washington Redskins.

Richard Khamir Hurd, 25, admitted to approaching one of Griffin’s agents in June and threatening to give the media information that would hurt Griffin’s reputation unless he was paid $1 million. According to court documents, Griffin’s agent negotiated the demand, at the direction of the FBI, and agreed to pay the man $120,000. In return, Hurd was to turn over the information concerning Griffin and sign a nondisclosure agreement.

The government said Hurd went to a Waco law office on June 22 to sign the agreement and pick up his$120,000 check. FBI agents arrested him.

Hurd is scheduled to be sentenced November 21 and faces up to three years in prison for receiving extortion money and two years for interstate communication of a threat.

Robert Griffin III is in his first year with the Redskins. He was the second overall pick during the NFL draft. He won the Heisman Trophy while playing for Baylor.