Man behind extortion plot against Georgia Tech, Josh Pastner pleads guilty to federal charges

ATLANTA — A man convicted of making false sexual assault claims with his girlfriend against Georgia Tech men’s basketball coach Josh Pastner pleaded guilty in federal court.

In October, a federal grand jury charged Ron Bell and Jennifer Pendley with conspiracy to transmit a threat interstate, conspiracy to extort property from another and attempted extortion.

On Wednesday, Bell pleaded guilty to a charge of conspiracy to commit extortion.

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“The defendant tried to extort Georgia Tech and egregiously tarnish the reputation of the university’s coach with a false claim of sexual assault,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Buchanan. “By his guilty plea he acknowledged the lie and his criminal conduct, and will now face the consequences for his crime.”

Channel 2 Action News has been following this case involving Bell, a former friend of Pastner’s, and Pendley since 2017.

Bell and Pastner became involved in a public dispute after Bell provided impermissible benefits to two Tech basketball players in violation of NCAA rules. He claimed Pastner encouraged him.

Pastner filed a defamation lawsuit. Pendley and Bell countersued with accusations that Pastner sexually assaulted Pendley in a Houston hotel room in 2016. Pastner was coaching the Memphis Tigers at the time.

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Investigators later determined the assault did not take place and instead discovered an extortion plot.

Federal prosecutors say Bell recruited a Georgia Tech security guard to lie about witnessing the assault. He also promised the guard a share of $20 million he thought they could receive.

Bell also allegedly demanded money from Georgia Tech in exchange for not reporting the sexual assault claims. The security guard later admitted to school officials that his statements were not true and Bell asked him to participate in the extortion plot.

“Bell sought to severely damage the reputation of the institution and their coach solely for his own financial gain,” said Keri Farley, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. “The FBI will not tolerate false allegations and will do everything in our power to seek the truth and hold individuals who commit these type of crimes accountable for their selfish actions.”

This is the latest conviction for Bell. In 2021, an Arizona court convicted and sentenced Bell regarding the case and a judge ordered him to pay Pastner’s legal fees and serve three years of probation.

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