United Kingdom, July 3 -- A man is facing two years of prison after sending a fake ransom demand in connection to Nancy Guthrie's disappearance.

The 84-year-old mother of Today co-host Savannah Guthrie has been missing from her Arizona home since 1 February and now, Derrick Callela has admitted he called and sent text messages to her family on 4 February asking for a transfer of bitcoin in exchange for Nancy's return.

The 42-year-old Californian has pleaded guilty to two counts of harassment using a telecommunication device and will be sentenced on September 2010.

He faces up to two years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

An announcement from the US Attorney's Office for the District of Arizona read: "Callella acknowledged that he knew a...