More charges have been announced for Tim Norman, known for his appearances on OWN’s “Welcome to Sweetie Pie’s,” after federal authorities linked Norman to the death of his 21-year-old nephew last week.
James Timothy Norman, 41, was charged with conspiracy to use interstate commerce facilities (cellphone) in the commission of a murder-for-hire, resulting in the death of 21-year-old Andre Montgomery, according to a report by Mississippi news station WLBT. Norman, Terica Ellis and others are accused of conspiring to commit to murder-for-hire in exchange for money, according to the federal complaint.
The U.S. attorney’s office in St. Louis announced late last week that in addition to the murder-for-hire charge Norman was already facing, a grand jury charged him and 42-year-old Waiel Rebhi Yaghnam, of St. Louis, with conspiracy to commit wire and mail fraud. Yaghnam, who is not charged in the alleged murder-for-hire plot, is an insurance agent. In 2002, Yaghnam was listed as one of the producers of “Nellyville,” which sold more than 6 million copies in the U.S.
Norman, along with his mother Robbie Montgomery, is an owner of the St. Louis-based Sweetie Pie’s, a soul food restaurant, and starred on the OWN reality television show about the restaurant for several years.
Montgomery has not commented on her son’s arrest, but Norman’s former girlfriend and a friend of the family have spoken out about the arrest and Norman’s character.
Hours after his arrest was announced, his former girlfriend Jennifer Williams, who stars on VH1′s “Basketball Wives,’ seemingly responded to Norman’s arrest in an Instagram story Wednesday. Williams and Norman dated for about a year. She also made several appearances on “Welcome to Sweetie Pie’s.”
Credit: Via YouTube
Credit: Via YouTube
After their relationship ended, Williams obtained a restraining order against Norman and claimed he stalked her and was violent with employees, according to an interview the television personality gave to entertainment site Bossip.
In a now unavailable Instagram story, Williams appeared to speak to the arrest of her former beau.
“Karma will get you one way or another … The truth always reveals itself.” She added, “Condolences to the family, I can’t imagine this how this dose of truth is hitting.”
James Clark, the vice president of public safety for the Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis, said he came in contact with Norman and his mom over the years. He was “very shocked” by the news of Norman’s arrest.
“I remember Tim as a very thoughtful and very friendly young man. I worked with him as he reached out to at-risk men and women in the St. Louis Metropolitan area. He was very, very supportive of individuals who were coming out of incarceration,” Clark said.
Norman’s family members have not commented on the arrest.
What do the feds say happened?
Federal authorities allege that Norman obtained several life insurance policies on Montgomery, his nephew, in November 2014. Norman was the sole beneficiary on the policies, according to People. Those policies include a life insurance policy for $250,000 through Americo Insurance Company, as well as two different policies through Foresters Insurance for $200,000 and $250,000, according to the complaint.
In 2015, he attempted to obtain a replacement policy through Foresters Insurance, but was denied, according to the complaint.
“The applications of all these policies contained numerous false statements regarding Montgomery’s income, occupation, and family history,” the complaint reads.
Days prior to Montgomery’s killing, Ellis told Montgomery she would be traveling from Memphis, Tennessee, to St. Louis to visit him. On March 13, 2016, a day before Montgomery was killed, Norman flew from Los Angeles to St. Louis.
The following day, Ellis and Norman communicated using newly-activated, temporary phones. Ellis also used the temporary phone to communicate with Montgomery and determine his location. Once Montgomery’s location was discovered, Ellis placed a call to Norman. Around 8 p.m. that same day, Montgomery was shot and killed. Ellis’ phone location services place her in the area of the murder at time of the shooting.
After Montgomery’s killing, Ellis place a called to Norman and headed back to Memphis. Shortly after, Ellis, who worked as a stripper, deposited more than $9,000 in several bank accounts. Norman, according to the complaint, sent $700 to Ellis the month after Montgomery’s death.
Terica Ellis was also charged by complaint with conspiracy to use interstate commerce facilities in the commission of murder-for-hire, resulting in death.
Norman has not released a statement through his representatives about his arrest. He is currently being held in the Madison County Detention Center in Madison County, Mississippi.
Norman owns the St. Louis-based restaurant chain with his mother, who once performed alongside Tina and Ike Turner. Norman, his mother and Andre Montgomery starred on the OWN show about the restaurant and their family from 2011-2018. The show won an NAACP Award for Outstanding Reality Series. Montgomery was shot to death on March 14, 2016. Andre Montgomery appeared on the reality series, according to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.
In a November 2016 episode, Montgomery memorialized her grandson.
“This past spring my grandson, Andre, was shot and killed while visiting St. Louis,” Montgomery said in the clip. “I try to remember the good times with Andre and who he really was as a person.”
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