Murder for Bitcoin: Woman Pays Hitman to Assasinate her Husband
The U.S. Department of Justice announced on Tuesday that a Mississippi woman has been sentenced to spend a maximum of 10 years behind bars for her role in a failed assasination plot.
Fourty-year-old Jessica Leanne Sledge pleaded guilty in February to hiring an alleged killer on the dark web and paying him in BTC to kill her now ex-husband in Mississippi.
U.S. District Court Judge Carlton Reeves sentenced Sledge to 120 months in federal prison followed by three years of supervised probation and a $1,000 fine.
Pelahatchie Woman Pleads Guilty in Murder-for-Hire Plot: Jessica Leeann Sledge of Pelahatchie pleaded guilty to using interstate commerce facilities in the commission of a murder-for-hire. https://t.co/yBTShaqlhv
— FBI Jackson (@FBIJackson) February 9, 2022
Sledge admitted to the court that between September and November last year she contacted a hitman via Whatsapp in an attempt to kill her husband.
The alleged “killer” turned out to be an FBI agent
According to prosecutors, a Federal Bureau of Investigation special agent was the “hitman” she paid to carry out the murder.
She scheduled an in-person meeting with the hitman on November 1, 2021 in Brandon, Mississippi to convey additional payment and details of the target.
Bitcoin payments totaling approximately $10,000 were made by Sledge for the murder of “Victim 1” on October 4, October 9, and October 10, 2021.
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Between October 22 and 26, Sledge provided the FBI agent with specific details about her husband. Based on court documents, this contained various photographs of her husband as well as photographs of the vehicles he typically drove, including license plates.
Investigations show that the intended target was left unscathed. After her arrest, Sledge waived her rights and disclosed her involvement in the murder-for-hire scheme.
Alexander Stefanov
Reporter at CoinsPress
Alex is an experienced finance journalist and a cryptocurrency and blockchain enthusiast. With over five years of experience covering the industry, he deeply understands the complex and constantly evolving world of digital assets. His insightful and thought-provoking articles provide readers with a clear picture of the latest developments and trends in the market. His passionate approach allows him to break down complex ideas into accessible and insightful content. Follow up on his content to be up to date with the most important trends and topics - stay ahead of the curve with CoinsPress.
