A Georgia man accused of trying to extort Paula Deen by threatening to reveal “true and damning” information about the chef has signed a plea agreement with federal prosecutors.
Sixty-two-year-old Thomas George Paculis had previously pleaded not guilty.
Paculis originally tried to claim $250,000 from Deen in exchange for not divulging information to the media.
Deen has been scrambling since she admitted to using the n-word in the past in a deposition related lawsuit brought by a former employee.
According to a criminal complaint, Paculis interjected himself five days after Deen’s deposition became public. On that day, he sent an e-mail to Deen’s lawyer promising to go public with information about the chef’s use of the n-word.
“The statements are true and damning enough that the case for Jackson will be won on its merit alone,” Paculis wrote. “As always … there is a price for such confirmation.
