Former Sweetie Pie’s proprietor Tim Norman has been sentenced to life in federal jail after he as discovered responsible of finishing up a murder-for-hire plot in opposition to his nephew.
Norman realized of his destiny on Thursday morning following six months of ready, after a jury spent greater than 17 hours deliberating and figuring out a remaining verdict again in September.
Norman Receives Two Life Sentences, But Maintains His Innocence In Social Media Post
The 43-year-old was sentenced to life in federal jail for murder-for-hire in opposition to his nephew, Andre Montgomery Jr., in keeping with KSDK.
“He is the architect of this plan, causing, encouraging and aiding this scheme,” Assistant U.S. Attorney Gwendolyn Caroll advised the jury.
Just final week, Norman took to social media to proclaim his innocence with a caption saying “#innocent.”
However he was finally discovered responsible on all prices, which included conspiracy to commit murder-for-hire, murder-for-hire leading to loss of life and even mail fraud. On Thursday, Norman obtained two life sentences for the murder-for-hire counts in addition to a 240-month sentence for the mail fraud.
Welcome To Sweetie Pie’s Tim Norton Took Out Large Life Insurance Policy On Nephew Prior To His Death
The soul meals restauranteur is greatest recognized for the fact TV present Welcome to Sweetie Pie’s, which debuted on the Oprah Winfrey Network in 2011 and resulted in 2018.
In 2020, he was accused of plotting his nephew’s homicide after Montgomery’s loss of life again in 2016.
He took out life insurance coverage insurance policies for $450,000 on Montgomery two years earlier than his passing in 2014, court docket paperwork present.
However, Norman claims he didn’t take out that coverage and was “still in disbelief” in a social media submit final week.
“Thank you for all the prayers. I’m still in disbelief. The feds know 100% I did not do those insurance policies,” Norman wrote. “But the jury did not get to hear that. And not one person got on that stand and told them to hurt my nephew. They destroyed my name and image so you guys wouldn’t search for the truth.”
RELATED: Sweetie Pie’s Closes Doors In St. Louis After Tim Norman Is Found Guilty Of Killing Nephew
“Greed introduced this, he needed energy and wealth.”
The mom of Andre Montgomery Jr. stated these phrases in her sufferer influence assertion, speaking about Tim Norman. Below, we have now response from mother and the primary second the household walked out of the courthouse. pic.twitter.com/BBs18kcuIq
— Justina Coronel (@JustinaCoronel) March 2, 2023
Three Others Charged In Connection To The Crime, Including Norman’s Insurance Agent
Three others had been charged in connection to the crime, and have already pleaded responsible for his or her particular person roles, the outlet experiences.
Travell Anthony Hill, 31, was sentenced in Oct. 2022 to 32 years in jail after pleading responsible for being the employed hand that killed Norman’s nephew..
Hill, who took a plea settlement, admitted to authorities that he met with Montgomery’s uncle, James Timothy Norman, on the day of the homicide, and added he understood that Norman needed Montgomery lifeless.
Meanwhile, Norman’s insurance coverage agent, Waiel Rebhi Yaghnam, obtained three years in jail in Nov. 2022 after pleading responsible to conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud.
Another individual, 39-year-old Terica Ellis, was equally sentenced to 3 years in jail final month after pleading responsible to conspiracy to commit murder-for-hire, in keeping with KSDK.
She was initially dealing with a most 20-year sentence.
Nelly’s Country Grammar Producer/Insurance Agent Waiel Rebhi Yaghnam Is The Third Suspect Indicted With Sweetie Pie’s Tim Norman in Murder-For-Hire Plot pic.twitter.com/a3pOkUXjbI
— Blanco Tarantino TV, LLC (@BlancoTarantino) August 21, 2020
Terica Ellis was booked into Desoto County jail 8/17 pic.twitter.com/WAW0CG2Q6C
— Jennifer Diprizio (@JeniDiprizioTV) August 19, 2020
Shooter that killed Sweetie Pie’s actuality TV star pleads responsible, implicates others
Travell Anthony Hill pleaded responsible to his function in a 2016 murder-for-hire plot that killed Andre Montgomery, grandson of Robbie Montgomery. pic.twitter.com/g1t96lgxYP— Garrett Cruz (@GarrettCruz10) July 4, 2022
The U.S. Attorney’s Office states that there have been a number of components within the choose’s determination to condemn Ellis to 3 years, together with the truth that she had been compelled into prostitution as a younger lady.
Her function was to lure Montgomery to his loss of life, which she was reportedly paid $10,000 to do.
Norman’s Attorneys Attempted To Fight Life Sentence For Their Client, Citing His Troubled Childhood
Norman’s attorneys had been combating since final week to maintain him from receiving a life sentence and requested for not more than 20 years in jail, however had been finally unsuccessful.
The legal professionals tried to argue that Norman’s troubled childhood performed a task within the crime, and famous his charitable efforts to present again to the neighborhood lately.
“In sum, the ‘history and characteristics’ of Mr. Norman strongly favor a sentence that is no more than 20 years,” court docket paperwork learn.”
Norman’s mom, Robbie Montgomery, additionally begged the choose “for mercy for my son.”
In February 2020, Sweetie Pies, a restaurant chain primarily based in St. Louis, Missouri, abruptly closed all areas only a few months earlier than Norman’s arrest. The firm had been in enterprise for over 20 years and, at its peak, operated 19 shops in 9 states.