Crawford an alleged extortion victim

CNN reported Edis Kayalar, who had been in the United States illegally, was deported to his native Germany in September after he allegedly contacted Crawford and her husband Rande Gerber repeatedly and asked them for money in exchange for the photo. The picture apparently had been taken as a joke by the then-7-year-old's former nanny and allegedly stolen by Kayalar, the U.S. news network said.

Court records reveal Kayalar told Crawford and Gerber the image, which he described as showing the girl in "revealing clothing, bound to a chair and gagged," could be sold for a considerable sum to the media. He allegedly also said he would sell it to the couple for $100,000.

Thom Mrozek, a spokesman for the U.S. attorney's office in central California, told the news network the extortion charge was filed against Kayalar Thursday.

Although U.S. federal prosecutors have been in contact with German authorities, Kayalar was not in custody, CNN said.

Copyright 2009 by United Press International.