Kansas City man gets 30 years in cyberstalking death case

Click the + Icon To See Additional Sharing Options A Kansas City, Missouri, man has been sentenced in federal court after pleading guilty to cyberstalking resulting in death in connection with a 2019 murder-for-hire case. Michael Smith, also known as “Black Mike,” 39, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Roseann Ketchmark to 30 years in federal prison. The sentence will run consecutively to a previously imposed four-year sentence tied to a separate $1.1 million insurance fraud scheme. According to court records, Smith admitted in his guilty plea that he had been hired to carry out the killing in late January or early February 2019. Prosecutors said Smith and co-conspirator Dontay Campbell obtained a GPS tracking device to monitor the intended target’s movements. On March 5, 2019, Smith and Campbell placed the tracking device beneath a red Chevrolet Tahoe belonging to the victim. Smith used the GPS device to follow the vehicle’s movements and, on multiple occasions, used the information to physically locate the victim. On March 16, 2019, Smith conducted surveillance as the victim drove to a grocery store in Kansas City. After the victim exited the store and returned toward the Tahoe, Campbell and another co-conspirator arrived in a Chrysler Sebring and pulled alongside the SUV. Court documents state the unidentified co-conspirator exited the Sebring and fired multiple shots at the victim using a Ruger .40-caliber handgun owned by Campbell. During the shooting, Campbell unsuccessfully attempted to remove the GPS tracker from the Tahoe. Authorities said Campbell and the unidentified accomplice then returned to the Sebring, drove briefly around the parking lot, and parked again near the Tahoe. The accomplice fired several additional shots into the vehicle while Campbell again tried, unsuccessfully, to retrieve the tracking device. The pair then fled the scene in the Sebring. The victim died from multiple gunshot wounds. Court records indicate Smith was paid in cash for his role in the killing. Co-defendant Dontay Campbell has also pleaded guilty to cyberstalking resulting in death and remains awaiting sentencing. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Trey Alford, Nicholas Heberle, and Matthew Wolesky. The investigation was conducted by the FBI and the Kansas City Police Department. Post Views: Share this: Tweet Share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window) Share on Mastodon (Opens in new window) Mastodon Share on Nextdoor (Opens in new window) Nextdoor Share on Bluesky (Opens in new window) Bluesky Email a link to a friend (Opens in new window) Print (Opens in new window) Share on Tumblr Share on Reddit (Opens in new window) Share on Telegram (Opens in new window) Related Click the + Icon To See Additional Sharing Options Sharing Email this article Print this article