A 67-year-old woman wept in court as she received a nearly 19-year prison sentence for orchestrating a murder plot against her fiancé to cash in on a substantial life insurance payout.
Victoria Williams expressed remorse and offered apologies to the family of Charles Harris III during the court proceedings on Thursday.
“Not a day has passed where I haven’t felt the weight of my actions,” Williams remarked, according to a report from the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.
Williams was found guilty of plotting alongside Michael Grady, who had recently been convicted, to hire assassins to murder Harris for his $250,000 life insurance policy.
Grady, aged 70, was convicted by a jury on charges of conspiracy to commit murder-for-hire, aiding and abetting murder-for-hire, and conspiracy to commit money laundering, as stated by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Missouri.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office explained that Williams was experiencing financial difficulties, and Grady devised the scheme to secure the insurance payout for both of them.
‘Grady also hired the person or persons who shot Harris in his home on Langford Drive on October 5, 2011, telling Williams, “I have two young shooters,” the trial showed,’ a press release said.
‘Ladies and Gentleman, Michael Grady was at the center of this,’ Assistant US Attorney Nino Przulj said on Monday.
Victoria Williams, 67, sobbed in court as she is sentenced to nearly 19 years behind bars for conspiring a hit on her fiancée, Charles Harris III, in October 2011
Harris (seen here in his obituary) was shot and killed by hitmen, ordered by Williams and Michael Grady, in exchange for his $250,000 life insurance policy
Grady had witnessed Williams and Harris arguing over money the year prior to his death, and told her that she ‘shouldn’t be going through that,’ Williams said during Grady’s trial.
According to the attorney’s office, the pair conspired to murder Harris after inquiring with his insurance company about the accidental death policy.
Williams said during Grady’s trial that, after trying to back out twice, Grady told her the plan was too far along and that it would be ‘bad for you’ if she tried to put a stop to it.
After Harris’ death, Williams received $224,444 from the life insurance company and then obtained a cashier’s check for $110,000 payable to Grady’s wife. Another insurance policy gave Williams an additional $175,762.
Williams’ testimony against Grady , detailing how he had suggested the scheme to have Harris killed for the accidental death policy, was factored into her sentencing.
Prosecutor Ryan Finlen said her testimony was a key component to Grady’s conviction and subsequently suggested a lower sentencing for Williams.
She had been facing a life sentence.
‘Without her assistance, Michael Grady would’ve never been held accountable,’ Finlen said.
Judge Audrey Fleissig agreed that Williams testimony had been significantly weighed against her sentencing, but noted that she did not present the information until her arrest in 2021.
Annette Harris, Harris’ sister, told the court that his family believe Williams should serve her whole term.
‘Victoria is not God,’ Annette said, the outlet reported.
Williams was sentenced to 225-months, or just less than 19 years, behind bars.
Grady is set to be sentenced on June 4 and faces life in prison. He is already serving a 226-month prison sentence for aiding a large-scale, violent drug conspiracy, according to the US attorney’s office.
