One of four accused persons in a murder-for-hire investigation concerned a reality TV show star from “Welcome to Sweetie Pie’s” pleaded guilty in federal court on Friday.
In the March 2016 killing of Andre Montgomery Jr., Travell Hill, 30, was convicted of one count of conspiracy to commit murder-for-hire and another count of murder-for-hire, according to KSDK.
Montgomery, who was 21 at the time of his death, is the grandson of Robbie Montgomery, the founder of the soul food restaurant Sweetie Pie’s.
Hill admitted in the plea agreement that he gunned down Montgomery on March 14, 2016, outside a residence on the 3900 block of Natural Bridge Ave. in return for several thousands of dollars.
Hill met James Timothy Norman, Andre Montgomery Jr.’s uncle and Robbie Montgomery’s son, for a “discussion” near the Clinton-Peabody Housing Complex south of downtown St. Louis on the day of the murder. “It was Hill’s understanding that Norman wanted Hill to kill Montgomery” following the meeting.
On the same day, Norman, 43, and Terica Ellis, who are both charged with murder-for-hire conspiracy and murder-for-hire, purchased and enabled prepaid mobile phones from a Walgreens in the Central West End community. According to the indictment, Ellis instructed Norman to “initiate all further communication with her” on the recently bought mobile phone.
During the meeting near Hill’s apartment complex, Norman told him that Ellis would contact him later that day with Montgomery’s location. Hill then obtained a.380 caliber semiautomatic pistol from a neighboring tenant.
He ended up choosing that gun because it was “small and could easily be concealed inside his sweatshirt.” The person who provided Hill with the gun is not identified in court papers.
Montgomery texted his location—”3964 natural bridge”—to Ellis around 7:07 p.m., who then forwarded the location to Hill and Norman. According to court papers, Ellis “called, attempted to call, or sent text messages” to Hill at least 5 times.
Ellis, a 33-year-old Memphis stripper who was dating Norman, informed Hill that she would help draw Montgomery outside the residence in the city’s Greater Ville area so Hill could blast him.
Hill arrived at the residence around 8 p.m., and Montgomery followed shortly thereafter, according to witnesses.
Hill was initially uncertain as to whether or not the man who approached his home was Montgomery. To verify his identity, Hill asked Montgomery if he possessed any weed.
At that time, Montgomery walked toward a vehicle and engaged in conversation with an individual Hill assumed to be Ellis.
As Montgomery approached his residence shortly after 8 p.m., Hill called out to him. Montgomery approached Hill, who then fired multiple shots at him.
On March 16, 2016, Norman instructed Hill to meet with a person “known to both Hill and Norman” near the junction of Chouteau Avenue and Dillon Court, which is near Hill’s apartment building.
The individual handed Hill a bag containing approximately $5,000 and told him to keep your mouth quiet.”
Prosecutors alleged that Hill discussed Montgomery’s murder and resulting payment with his jailed brother in recorded conversations.
Ellis deposited upwards of $9,000 in cash, a portion of the $10,000 Norman allegedly paid her, into numerous bank accounts in Memphis in the days after the killing of Montgomery.
Waiel Rebhi Yaghnam, the insurance agent for Norman, is charged with mail and wire fraud, as well as multiple counts of aggravated identity theft.
After Montgomery’s death, Norman, who is also charged with wire and mail fraud, attempted to collect a $450,000 policy that was ultimately issued: a $200,000 base policy, a $200,000 accidental death rider that would pay out if Montgomery died of something other than natural causes, and a $50,000 rider that would pay out if Montgomery died within ten years of the policy’s issuance in 2014.
