Letterman Blackmailer Headed to Big House

Veteran CBS News producer accused of $2 million extortion plot sentenced to six months

By Josh Grossberg May 04, 2010 6:28 PMTags
David Letterman, Robert HaldermanCBS; AP Photo/Pool, Marc A. Hermann

David Letterman's extortionist will have plenty of time to ponder his crime.

Robert "Joe" Halderman, the former CBS News producer who copped to one count of attempted first-degree larceny in March for a $2 million shakedown plot over the Late Show host's admittedly "reckless" dalliances, was sentenced today to six months in jail

All because of a stupid human trick...

Halderman faced a maximum of 15 years had the case gone to trial, but his plea deal ensured the much shorter term. As expected, Manhattan Supreme Court Judge Charles H. Solomon also imposed four and a half years' probation and ordered Halderman to perform 1,000 hours of community service.

The Emmy-winning 48 Hours Mystery man was busted last October for threatening to go public with info that his then live-in lover, Stephanie Birkitt, had been secretly seeing Letterman while under his employ.

Portraying Halderman as a "desperate" man in arrears for child and spousal support to his ex-wife, prosecutors say Halderman concocted his plan, couched as commercial transaction. He offered to sell the 62-year-old host a film treatment detailing revelations of Letterman's liasons.

Unfortunately for the 52-year-old Halderman, Letterman and his attorney tipped off the authorities who netted Halderman in a sting operation.

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Crime doesn't pay. But it sure makes for good celeb mug shots. Check out some of the best here.