CEDAR RAPIDS – A woman who used her telephone to communicate with others in an attempt to commission a murder for hire pled guilty on November 20, 2013, in federal court in Cedar Rapids.
Megan Schmidt, 23, from Dubuque, Iowa, was convicted of one count of using interstate commerce facilities in the commission of murder for hire.
In a plea agreement, Schmidt admitted that two advertisements were posted on the website “Craigslist” from her Apple iPhone, soliciting for someone to do a “one time job.” In response to the advertisements, multiple individuals contacted defendant 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. Eventually, using her cell phone, Schmidt called and spoke to a man she thought was the individual she had emailed. However, Schmidt was actually talking to an undercover deputy from the Dubuque County Sheriff’s office. During this 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, where Schmidt was arrested.
Sentencing before United States District Court Chief Judge Linda R. Reade will be set after a presentence report is prepared. Schmidt remains in custody of the United States Marshal pending sentencing. Schmidt faces a possible maximum sentence of 10 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a $100 special assessment, and up to three years of supervised release following any imprisonment.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Anthony Morfitt and was investigated by the Dubuque County Sheriff’s Office and the Dubuque Police Department.
