Autumn Jackson gets 26 months for extortion plot against Bill Cosby

Jet, Dec 29, 1997

Autumn Jackson, the woman who tried to extort $40 million from Bill Cosby by threatening to tell tabloids that she is his illegitimate daughter, recently was sentenced to 26 months.

But the judge left open the possibility that Jackson, 23, might reduce her time in prison by completing a rehabilitation program. Under federal guidelines, Jackson faced between 57 and 71 months in jail.

Cosby, in a taped TV interview, said "Whatever comes down is just fine with the Cosby family." The extortion plot was unfolded at the same time that Cosby's son, Ennis, was murdered.

Before U.S. District Court Judge Barbara Jones pronounced the sentence, she heard a tearful statement from Jackson.

"I've had a long time to think about what I've done and I'd like to apologize to the court and Mr. Cosby," she said. "I only hoped that Mr. Cosby would be here and I would be able to apologize to him in person for letting him down... and causing his family so much pain. I knew Mr. Cosby held great expectations for me and believed in me when no one else would, and I let him down. I'm so sorry."

Jack Schmitt, Cosby's attorney, said in a prepared statement to JET: "After Autumn Jackson was convicted of extortion, Mr. Cosby was asked by the probation department to comment on sentencing. He said two things. First, he said that he did not know how long the sentence should be, but had confidence that Judge Jones would be able to fix a term that was fair and just. Second, he said he believed Ms. Jackson's criminal behavior showed that she needed counseling and that he hoped she would be sent to a place where she would receive appropriate psychological and other support services."

The statement continued: "Today's sentence by Judge Jones demonstrates that Mr. Cosby's confidence was well-placed. We believe that the sentence imposed is measured, balanced and just. We hope that Ms. Jackson avails herself of the opportunity to enter the program suggested by the judge and that it leads to her rehabilitation."

Cosby acknowledged having a sexual liaison with Jackson's mother, Shawn Upshaw, in Las Vegas in the '70s, and he provided more than $100,000 in financial support over the years. But he says he doesn't believe he is her father. The issue of paternity was ruled irrelevant to the charge.