David Hans Schmidt, the celebrity sex tape broker who was facing prison time after pleading guilty to trying extort money from Tom Cruise, was found dead in his home yesterday afternoon, according to authorities.

Local ivestigators said it appeared David Hans Schmidt, 47, who was under house arrest in the Phoenix area pending sentencing, had committed suicide.

Schmidt was found dead in his townhouse around 3 p.m. Friday after police noticed an electronic tracker placed on him had not moved and he had not checked in with authorities as required, said Lt. Anthony Lopez.

It wasn’t known when Schmidt, who was free on $100,000 bond, was to enter his plea in court. He also faced a $250,000 fine 1for trying to extort $1 million or more for stolen TomKat wedding photos August 24 in L.A.