Defendant Sentenced to 13 Years for Murder-for-Hire Plot
LAREDO, Texas – Kevin Corley, 30, a former U.S. Army officer, has been sentenced to 13 years in federal prison for his role in a murder-for-hire plot and drug conspiracy.
Corley, of Columbia, S.C., pleaded guilty last September to conspiracy to commit murder for hire, conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine and marijuana, and for possessing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence.
Senior U.S. District Judge George P. Kazen handed Corley 96 months for the conspiracy charges and a consecutive sentence of 60 months for the use of a firearm during the commission of a violent crime for a total of 13 years in federal prison. He was also ordered to pay a $5,000 fine.
Corley became the leader in the overall conspiracy, getting the team together, selling armored vests, purchasing assault rifles, and giving them to undercover agents. However, he took responsibility by pleading guilty and assisted in the convictions of others as a very effective witness at trial.
Corley’s co-defendants, Samuel Walker, 29, and Calvin Epps, 29, were convicted following a jury trial in which Corley testified. The remaining four – Marcus Mickle, 21, and Robert Corley, 24, both of Columbia, S.C.; Shavar Davis, 30, of Denver, Colo.; and Mario Corley, 41, of Saginaw, Texas – all pleaded guilty and have been sentenced to terms ranging from 30 months to 15 years in prison for their roles in the overall conspiracy.
The investigation began in January 2011, when Mickle began negotiations with persons whom he thought were members of the Los Zetas Cartel, actually undercover Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) agents, to purchase marijuana in return for stolen weapons.
Over the next several months, Corley continued to communicate with undercover agents regarding the services he could provide the cartel as a result of his training, experience, and access to information and equipment items afforded him as an active-duty soldier.
On Jan. 7, 2012, Corley traveled to Laredo and met with undercover agents. During this meeting, he claimed he could raid a ranch located at or near Laredo containing 20 kilograms of cocaine and conduct a contract killing there. Corley proposed a $50,000 fee for this work but stated he would need to bring his own team.
During March 2012, Corley allegedly arranged for 300 pounds of marijuana to be delivered to Mario Corley in Charleston, S.C. Corley also assisted in brokering 500 pounds of marijuana and five kilograms of cocaine for Mickle and Epps and discussed with agents the distribution of these narcotics in South Carolina, Texas, and Colorado.
Agents testified that on March 5, 2012, Corley delivered two AR-15 assault rifles with scopes, an airsoft assault rifle, five allegedly stolen ballistic vests, and other miscellaneous equipment to an undercover agent in Colorado Springs, Colo.
Key Facts
- State: Texas
- Category: Violent Crime|Drug Trafficking
- Source: DOJ Press Release ↗
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