Jackson Jambalaya

 Tim Norman pleaded not guilty in U.S. District Court in Missouri yesterday.  A grand jury indicted him for conspiracy to commit murder and conspiracy to commit wire and mail fraud.  The indictment accuses Norman of paying someone to kill his nephew after he took out a life insurance policy on the nephew.  The nephew was murdered in 2016.  Norman is the manager of Sweetie Pie's Restaurant in Jackson. 

The latest entry in the court file states: 

 Under Section 15002(b)(2)(A) of the CARES act, in response to the COVID-19 crisis this Court authorizes the use of video and telephone conferencing for criminal hearings. Counsel for the government and defense counsel participated by video conference. Initial Appearance/Rule 5 as to James Timothy Norman held on 10/13/2020. 

Defendant sworn. Defendant advised of rights and indicated an understanding of those rights. Defendant given copy of: Indictment. Defendant to retain: John Rogers., 

Arraignment: Parties present for arraignment. Defendant sworn. Defendant waives reading of indictment, plea of not guilty as to James Timothy Norman (1) Count 1r-2r,3r held on 10/13/2020. 

Motion 16 granted. Complex case finding for James Norman. Oral motion for secondary counsel made on the record by defense counsel; defense counsel will file a motion in the case. Detention Hearing as to James Timothy Norman held on 10/13/2020. Defendant sworn. Arguments heard. Matter taken under advisement. Order to issue. Motion for Protective Order 34 taken under advisement. Attorney Only Status Conference is currently set for December 2, 2020 at 10:00am. (proceedings started: 2:35pm) (proceedings ended: 3:03pm)(FTR Gold Operator initials: A. Thompson) (Defendant Location: Custody)(Attorney Appearance for USA: Gwendolyn Carroll and Angie Danis.)(Attorney Appearance for Defense: John P. Rogers and David Mueler.) (AAT) (Entered: 10/13/2020)

Norman's mother owns the Sweetie Pie's chain.   Trouble seems to follow Norman wherever he goes.  She once sued him for trademark infringement after he opened several restaurants under her name without her permission.  Controversy erupted almost immediately when he hit town last year.  He opened the restaurant in the Plaza building but was forced to close it after one day because he did not have the necessary permits.  Norman brought in a large commercial smoker for the restaurant but parked it on the street. The Plaza obviously has no space for a smoker.  The restaurant placed the smoker in Smith Park for a couple of weeks but moved it to the sidewalk on opening day.

Norman ran a power extension cord out the front door to the smoker.  The landlord told him remove the cord.  Undeterred,  he ran the cord out the side door, down Amite street, up Congress Street to the infamous smoker. The city literally pulled the plug. No smoker, no food.

Sweetie Pies soon shut down the President Street site but not before Norman stole items belonging to the landlord. The restaurant reopened on East South Street.  

 The Justice Department stated in a press release: 

 According to the indictment and other court documents, Norman conspired with Terica Ellis and others to use a facility of interstate commerce, namely, a cellular telephone, to commit a murder-for-hire in exchange for United States currency, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1958. In 2014, Norman obtained a $450,000 life insurance policy on his 20-year-old nephew, Andre Montgomery, on which Norman was the sole beneficiary. In the days leading up to Montgomery’s murder, Ellis, an exotic dancer residing in Memphis, Tennessee, communicated with Montgomery and informed him that she was planning to be in St. Louis. On March 13, 2016, the day before Montgomery’s murder, Norman flew to St. Louis, Missouri from his home in Los Angeles, California. On March 14, 2016, Ellis and Norman communicated using temporary phones activated that day. Ellis also used the temporary phone to communicate with Montgomery and learn his physical location for the purpose of luring Montgomery outside. Immediately after learning Montgomery’s location, Ellis placed a call to Norman. On March 14, 2016, at approximately 8:02 p.m., Montgomery was killed by gunfire at 3964 Natural Bridge Avenue in the City of St. Louis. Ellis’s phone location information places her in the vicinity of the murder at time of the homicide. Immediately following Montgomery’s murder, Ellis placed a call to Norman, and then began traveling to Memphis, Tennessee. In the days after the murder, Ellis deposited over $9,000 in cash into various bank accounts. On March 18, 2016, Norman contacted the life insurance company in an attempt to collect on the life insurance policy he had obtained on his nephew.

The indictment alleges that prior to Montgomery’s murder, Norman conspired with Waiel Yaghnam, his insurance agent, to fraudulently obtain a life insurance policy on Montgomery. Beginning in October of 2014, Norman and Yaghnam submitted three separate life insurance applications, all containing numerous false statements regarding Montgomery’s income, net worth, medical history, employment and family background. In the life insurance policy that ultimately issued, Norman obtained a $200,000 policy, as well as $200,000 accidental death rider that would pay out in the event that Montgomery died of something other than natural causes, and a $50,000 10 year-term rider that would pay out if Montgomery died within 10 years of the policy’s issuance in 2014....

 If convicted of the conspiracy to commit murder-for-hire or murder-for-hire, resulting in death, the penalty is life imprisonment or death and a fine of $250,000; and conspiracy to commit wire and mail fraud carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a fine of $250,000. In determining the actual sentence, a judge is required to consider the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, which provide recommended sentencing ranges.

Stay tuned.