A Dubuque woman has been sentenced to more than seven years in federal prison for trying to hire someone to commit murder. Megan Schmidt, 23, from Dubuque, Iowa, received the prison term after a November 20, 2013, guilty plea to one count of using interstate commerce facilities in the commission of murder for hire.
According to court documents, Schmidt used Craigslist to post advertisements soliciting for someone to do a “one time job.” In response to the advertisements, multiple individuals contacted Schmidt by email, including an individual also from Dubuque. During an exchange of emails between Schmidt and this individual, Schmidt stated that she wanted a man killed.
Schmidt eventually spoke to an undercover deputy from the Dubuque County Sheriff’s office, who was posing as the individual she had emailed. During the phone call, Schmidt agreed to pay $10,000 to have a man killed. The undercover deputy then arranged to meet Schmidt at a location in Dubuque to see a picture of the man she wanted killed. Following this meeting, Schmidt was arrested.
Schmidt was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Chief Judge Linda R. Reade. She was sentenced to 87 months’ imprisonment, and a special assessment of $100 was imposed. Schmidt must also serve a three-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Anthony Morfitt and was investigated by the Dubuque County Sheriff’s Office and the Dubuque Police Department. Court file information is available at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov, with the case file number being 13-CR-1013.
This sentence serves as a reminder of the serious consequences of using violence to solve problems. The use of interstate commerce facilities, such as the internet, to facilitate violent crimes will be thoroughly investigated and prosecuted. The public is encouraged to report any suspicious activity to the authorities to help prevent such crimes.
In a statement, the U.S. Attorney’s Office emphasized the importance of cooperation between law enforcement agencies in bringing perpetrators of violent crimes to justice. The office also praised the work of the undercover deputy who posed as the individual Schmidt had emailed, saying that their work was instrumental in bringing Schmidt to justice.
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Key Facts
- State: Iowa
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Violent Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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