Former CBS Producer, Letterman Extortionist, Released Early from Rikers Island

The New York City Department of Corrections has confirmed that former 48 Hours producer Robert Halderman was freed from Rikers Island Thursday on account of good behavior after serving four months of his six-month prison sentence, CNN reports.

Back in March, Halderman pleaded guilty to attempted second-degree larceny after admitting to trying to extort $2 million from CBS’ David Letterman in exchange for his silence in regards to the late-night talk show host’s affairs with female staffers.

The convicted extortionist was initially charged with first-degree attempted grand larceny and faced up to 15 years in prison, but the charge was reduced as a result of his plea agreement with the prosecution. When he was sentenced on May 4, he received five years’ probation and 1,000 hours of community service to go along with his prison term.

During his court appearance on the day of his sentencing, the 27-year CBS News veteran expressed remorse by apologizing to the families of Letterman and Stephanie Birkitt, Halderman’s former live-in girlfriend, Letterman’s former assistant, and one of the female staffers who had sexual relations with the talk show host.

After blackmailing Letterman and receiving a $2 million check, the Emmy Award-winning producer deposited the money into a Connecticut bank account and was arrested just one day later. In response to the firestorm of negative publicity, the talk show host came clean on Late Night with David Letterman and admitted to having affairs.

“He survived this, and he’s glad to be getting off the island,” Halderman’s lawyer, Gerald Shargel, said after his client was released, according to The Hollywood Reporter.