Baltimore man gets 40 extra years for 2016 murder-for-hire that killed wrong woman
Matthew Hightower, 44, was sentenced to 40 federal years for orchestrating a murder-for-hire plot that killed an innocent woman by mistake in Baltimore.
Baltimore man sentenced to 40 years for murder-for-hire plot that killed innocent neighbour
A Baltimore man has been sentenced to 40 years in federal prison after orchestrating a murder-for-hire scheme that resulted in the death of an innocent woman, the Maryland U.S. Attorney's Office announced Thursday, according to foxbaltimore.com.
Matthew Hightower, 44, was ordered to serve 40 years, followed by five years of supervised release, for using a firearm during and in relation to a violent crime. The sentence runs concurrently with a prison term he is already serving for the murder of David Wutoh, beginning 8 October.
The intended target was a female federal witness who had provided law enforcement with information about Hightower's involvement in a healthcare fraud scheme and the murder of Wutoh. Hightower faced federal charges in both matters at the time.
In a case of mistaken identity, the victim was Latrina Ashburne, a next-door neighbour of the federal witness who was similar in age and appearance. Ashburne was shot and killed in May 2016 as she entered her car outside her home.
Court documents show that while incarcerated and awaiting trial, Hightower used jail phone calls and written letters to coordinate the killing with accomplices. His goal was to prevent the witness from testifying against him.
Two other Baltimore men received federal life sentences for their roles in carrying out the plot. Davon Carter, 46, identified as the shooter, and Clifton Mosley, 49, who assisted in the operation, were both convicted for Ashburne's murder.
On 22 September 2016, following a seven-day federal trial, a jury convicted Hightower on separate charges. He received 380 months — approximately 31 years — for extortion and his role in Wutoh's murder.
The new 40-year term is added to the sentence Hightower is already serving, meaning he will spend decades more in federal custody for his role in the 2016 murder-for-hire plot.
Source: Google News MT — Crime (en)