Dubuque woman pleads guilty in murder for hire scheme

A Dubuque woman who attempted to hire someone to kill a man pleaded guilty this week in federal court and faces up 10 years in prison.

Megan Schmidt, 23, pleaded guilty Tuesday to one count of using interstate commerce facilities in the commission of murder for hire.

According to the plea agreement, Schmidt admitted she posted two ads on “Craigslist” from her cell phone June 22 and and 23, soliciting someone to do a “one time job.” The first ad was removed from the website but then she posted the other one. In response to the ad, multiple individuals contacted her by email, including an individual, "M.T.," also from Dubuque.

Schmidt asked him what he wouldn't do for "that amount of money so I know if we are on the same page."

M.T. replied "just about anything."

Schmidt asked if that included "taking someone out" and M.T. said some people deserve it and then told her he was molested by a priest and found a way to "get him back" without taking his life.

Schmidt then tells him she wants this man dead and suggests M.T. shoot or stab him because "he is a bigger man."

The plea agreement and criminal information doesn't identify the man Schmidt wanted to have killed.

M.T. then contacted law enforcement and provided them with her cell number and copies of the emails they had exchanged.

Later that day, a Dubuque Sheriff's deputy pretending to be M.T. left a voice mail and contact information for her. Schmidt then called the undercover deputy, using her cell, and solicited him to kill the man. She agreed to pay him $10,000 and told him she wanted the man "dead and gone, can't deal with the suffering anymore." The undercover deputy then arranged to meet Schmidt at a hotel in Dubuque and Schmidt was arrested.

Schmidt remains in custody pending sentencing. She faces up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.