Published: November 06, 2008 02:35 pm      

Two plead guilty in murder plot

Muskogee — Two women accused of conspiring to kill another woman pleaded guilty in federal court Wednesday.

Tonia Rene Mullins, 32, and Regina Hercules, 42, both of Ada, pleaded guilty to conspiracy and use of interstate commerce facilities in the commission of murder-for-hire, according to Sheldon J. Sperling, United States attorney for the eastern district of Oklahoma.

“The charges arose from an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation,” Sperling said.

“On September 4, 2008 the Ardmore Police Department notified the FBI of a report that Tonia Mullins was looking for a hit man to kill the wife of Michael Andrew Crawford,” Sperling said. “Mullins and Crawford intended to buy a house together with $250,000 they anticipated collecting from the victim’s life insurance policy.”

Agents from the OSBI and FBI began an investigation that included the use of consensual audio recordings and hidden video recordings.

“During a series of phone calls and text messages, it became evident that Michael Crawford’s aunt, Regina Hercules was also involved in the scheme to kill the victim,” Sperling said.

On Sept. 12, an undercover agent with the OSBI met with Mullins and Hercules in Wintersmith Park and negotiated a price of $5,000 for killing the victim.

The agent later participated in a three way call with Mullins, Crawford and Hercules to confirm details of the deal, according to Sperling.

On Sept. 19, when Mullins and Crawford brought jewelry as collateral to the undercover agent to ensure payment of the $5,000, they were arrested. Following their arrest Mullins and Hercules provided statements to the FBI acknowledging their involvement in the scheme and implicating Crawford, Sperling said.

Crawford, 26, is serving in the military in Suwon, Republic of Korea. Mullins reportedly told the agent she was planning on marrying Crawford after his wife was gone.

Military authorities have been alerted so Crawford may be brought back to the Eastern District of Oklahoma for judicial proceedings, according to Sperling.

“The Honorable Kimberly E. West, Magistrate Judge for the United States District Court in Muskogee, accepted the defendants’ guilty pleas and ordered the completion of a presentence report,” Sperling said. “Sentencing will be scheduled following its completion.

“The statutory range of punishment is up to 10 years imprisonment and/or up to $250,000 in fines, with 3 years supervised release. Preliminary sentencing guidelines project each defendant could face 87 to 108 months in prison.”