Jackson Woman Sentenced to Over 14 Years in Federal Prison for Murder-for-Hire Plot

Jackson, Miss. – Velma White, 32, of Jackson, was sentenced today by Chief U.S. District Judge Daniel P. Jordan III to serve a total of 170 months in federal prison for a murder-for-hire plot to kill a family member, announced U.S. Attorney Mike Hurst and Dana Nichols, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. White was also ordered to pay a $1,500 fine.

On August 23, 2017, White contacted, via text messages from her cellular telephone, an undercover officer whom she believed to be a "hit-man." During a phone call, White explained to the undercover officer that she wanted her family member murdered, and she agreed to pay the undercover officer approximately $10,000 for the murder. Over the next few days, White and the undercover officer discussed and planned out the murder of White’s family member, with White given multiple opportunities to back out. However, White only affirmed her commitment to the murder scheme. White revealed that she was attempting to murder her family member in order to collect the proceeds of a $50,000 life insurance policy for which she was the sole beneficiary. White agreed to pay the undercover officer once she collected the life insurance money. White also expressed to the undercover officer her willingness to assist in other murder for hire plots in exchange for money.

"Today, the public is safer and our communities are more secure because this criminal will be going away for a long time. She not only threatened the life of a family member but also offered to help murder others in exchange for money, and she will now spend the next several years paying for and having a lot of time to reflect on her criminal actions. Our office and our law enforcement community will not rest until all of those who threaten human life are brought to justice," said U.S. Attorney Hurst.

The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives with assistance from the Pearl Police Department, the Hinds County Sheriff’s Department and the U.S. Marshals Service. Assistant United States Attorney Carla J. Clark is prosecuting the case.