NEW YORK (AP) -- The man who tried to shake down David Letterman is no longer claiming it was anything other than an extortion attempt.

As he entered a guilty plea in New York today, Joe Halderman said he "attempted to extort $2 million from David Letterman by threatening to disclose personal and private information about him."

He acknowledged that he delivered the threat in the form of a screenplay outline. But he says that was just a "thinly veiled threat to ruin" Letterman unless he paid "a lot of money."

Halderman entered the guilty plea to attempted grand larceny in exchange for a sentence of six months in jail and community service. If convicted at trial, he could have been sentenced to up to 15 years.

Halderman apologized to Letterman and his family, and to his own former girlfriend, Stephanie Birkett.

He remains free until sentencing in May.

Letterman, meanwhile, released a statement thanking prosecutors for pursuing the case. He said he had "complete faith" that there would be a "just and appropriate result."