I Messed Up

At one time, strip clubs were a booming business. The industry and the public’s opinion of strip clubs have changed. Where there used to be many clubs in certain sections of large cities, now there are few, if any.

The state attorney’s office filed a nuisance lawsuit against one of the remaining club owners in a big city, which resulted in the club closing. The club owner agreed to remain closed for one year.

Forcing this man out of business pushed him to seek a person to do the unthinkable.

Using his cell phone, the club owner sent a message to someone he didn’t know was a confidential informant (CI). He asked the person if they could find a guy in Mexico to perform two killings for him—the mayor and a city attorney. He gave the person two photos of the men he wanted killed—and offered to pay $10,000 per victim.

It's important to note that anytime a person takes part in a criminal act using the internet in doing so—in this case, his cell phone to message the CI—it automatically becomes a federal offense.

Shortly after the meeting between the club owner and the CI, law enforcement officers arrested the club owner and executed a search warrant at his home. They seized weapons and a large sum of money.

Five months after his arrest, the club owner changed his plea from not guilty to guilty of one count of murder-for-hire.

A federal judge sentenced the 34-year-old ex-club owner to ten years in prison and fined him over $17,000.

At his sentencing, the man stated,

“I messed up.”

And assured the judge he’d use his time in prison to make himself a better person.

Source: U.S. Department of Justice, U.S. FBI, NBC DFW5, CBS News, Courthouse News Service

All data and information provided is for information and research purposes only and not intended to malign any religion, ethnic group, club, organization, company, or individual. Criminal cases may have been appealed or verdicts overturned since I researched the case. All information is provided on an as-is basis.