Cold Case Murder Solved

The men responsible for Tony “T-Bone” Canfield’s death pled guilty today in federal court in Sioux City, Iowa.

Courtland Clark, age 26, from Flowery Branch, Georgia, Robert Beaver, age 35, from Sioux City, Iowa, and Devery Hibbler, age 26, from Dumas, Arkansas, were convicted of one count of interference with commerce by robbery.  In addition, Clark and Hibbler also pled guilty to one count of use of a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence causing death. 

Evidence at the change of plea hearings revealed: at about 11:00 pm on May 1, 2011, in Sioux City, Iowa, Beaver, Clark, and Hibbler, armed with a single loaded handgun, entered Tony Canfield's home to rob him of his marijuana and his marijuana proceeds.  Beaver beat and held Canfield's wife while Clark and Hibbler struggled with, and physically robbed Canfield.  Canfield resisted his attackers and attempted to escape the robbery by fleeing from his home.  Canfield did not make it to safety; he was shot to death on his front porch by Hibbler.

The three defendants escaped the crime scene and successfully concealed their crimes for nearly five years.  They were charged in a Superseding Indictment on April, 19, 2016.

Canfield was targeted for robbery because he was a marijuana dealer whose illegal interstate business earned him large sums of cash.  The robbery and murder affected interstate commerce allowing for federal prosecution of the case.

United States Attorney Kevin Techau stated: “This case is a fine example of persistence and cooperation by the Sioux City Police Department, Woodbury County Attorney’s Office and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.  Despite a number of obstacles along the way, these three agencies, along with the United States Attorney’s Office, never stopped working toward solving this murder, and bringing those responsible to justice.  This case gives notice to those who would commit acts of violence in our communities that no matter what the difficulties, and no matter how long it takes, we will investigate and prosecute such acts of violence to the full extent of the law.”

This case is being prosecuted as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods, a cooperative local, state and federal program aimed at the enhanced prosecution of gun crimes.  The case was referred to the United States Attorney’s Office by the Sioux City, Iowa Police Department and the Woodbury County Attorney’s Office.        

Sentencing before United States District Court Judge Leonard T. Strand will be set after a presentence report is prepared.  Clark, Hibbler, and Beaver remain in custody of the United States Marshal pending sentencing.  Pursuant to plea agreements: Hibbler has agreed to serve 35 years in federal prison without the possibility of parole or the right to appeal his conviction and Beaver has agreed to serve 20 years in federal prison without the possibility of parole or the right to appeal his conviction.  As charged, all three defendants, (i.e., Clark, Beaver, and Hibbler, each) faced up to life in prison without the possibility of parole, fines of up to $500,000.00, $200.00 in special assessments and up to five years of supervised release following any imprisonment.

The case was investigated by the United States Department of Justice - Federal Bureau of Investigation, Sioux City Iowa Police Department, and the Woodbury County Attorney’s Office.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Forde Fairchild.

Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl. 

The case file number is 16-4009.

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