Guilty Plea in Texas for RG3 Extortion Try

SAN ANTONIO (CN) - A former Baylor University basketball player pleaded guilty Thursday to trying to extort $1 million from Washington Redskins quarterback Robert Griffin III, federal prosecutors said.

Richard Khamir Hurd, 26, of Waco, pleaded guilty to one count of interstate communication of a threat to injure the property or reputation of another person and one count of receiving the proceeds of extortion.

Hurd admitted that he contacted one of Griffin's agents in June, demanding $1 million or else he would release information that would severely damage Griffin's reputation.

"During negotiations with Griffin's agent conducted at the direction of the FBI, Hurd agreed to accept a lesser sum of $120,000 in exchange for the information and signing a 'non-disclosure' agreement," prosecutors said in a written statement. "

On June 22, 2012, Hurd appeared in a Waco law office where he signed the 'non-disclosure' agreement and collected a check for $120,000. Afterwards, FBI agents arrested Hurd."

Griffin, 22, won the Heisman Trophy last year at Baylor as the nation's best college football player. Nicknamed RG3, Griffin was the second overall pick in April's NFL Draft and signed a four year, $21.2 million contract with the Redskins in July.

Hurd faces up to two years in federal prison on an interstate communication of a threat charge, and up to three years for the receipt of proceeds through extortion. He is currently free on bond.

Sentencing is scheduled for November 21.

Follow @davejourno

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