Probation ordered in Cruise extortion case

LOS ANGELES, Jan. 12 (UPI) -- Marc Lewis Gittleman has been sentenced to two years of probation for attempting to extort money from U.S. actor Tom Cruise.

With the presiding judge in Gittleman's case agreeing with lead attorneys that the 34-year-old West Hollywood, Calif., man should not face prison time, a fine of $3,000 was handed down in addition to probation following his plea agreement in the Hollywood extortion case, Zap2it.com said Friday.

Gittleman had attempted to force the "Mission Impossible 3" star to pay him $1.3 million to keep a set of stolen photographs of Cruise's wedding to actress Katie Holmes a secret.

Gittleman and his alleged partner, 47-year-old David Hans Schmidt, were later arrested following a police sting operation.

The Web site said that while Gittleman pleaded guilty to interstate transportation of stolen property, Schmidt committed suicide after being apprehended by authorities.