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Dark Web Revenge: Bedford Woman Sentenced to 9 Years for Hitman Plot
A 58-year-old Bedford woman who attempted to hire a hitman to kill her boyfriend’s lover was sentenced to nine years in federal prison, announced U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Leigha Simonton.
Michele Murphy, 58, was charged via criminal complaint in September 2023 and pleaded guilty in December 2023 to one count of murder-for-hire. She was sentenced Thursday by U.S. District Judge Mark Pittman.
According to court documents, Murphy used the dark web to attempt to pay a hitman $10,510 in Bitcoin to murder her boyfriend’s lover. Blockchain analysis showed that Murphy used an ATM to convert cash into cryptocurrency on at least three occasions. On July 27, 2023, she transferred approximately 0.358 BTC ($10,510) to a Bitcoin wallet she believed belonged to the murder-for-hire recipient.
Agents subsequently confronted Murphy and the boyfriend in question. After being read her Miranda rights, Murphy admitted that when she found out her boyfriend was seeing another woman, she attempted to hire a hitman to kill the woman.
At Thursday’s sentencing hearing, prosecutors and defense attorneys agreed that it appeared the ‘hitman’ who accepted funds from Murphy likely never intended to carry out the murder. This was a chilling example of how the dark web can be used for nefarious purposes.
Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation with the assistance of the Bedford, Euless, Grapevine, and Hurst Police Departments. Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Weybrecht prosecuted the case.
Murphy’s actions were a desperate attempt to silence her boyfriend’s lover, but ultimately, she was the one who faced justice. This case serves as a warning to those who would seek to use the dark web for violent crimes.
The Northern District of Texas has seen a rise in dark web-related crimes in recent years, and it’s clear that law enforcement agencies are committed to bringing those responsible to justice.
As we continue to explore the darker corners of the internet, it’s essential to remember that the consequences of using the dark web for violent crimes can be severe.
Key Facts
- State: Texas
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Cybercrime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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