Baltimore Felon Exiled To Over 19 Years In Prison In Murder-For-Hire Scheme

Baltimore, Maryland – U.S. District Judge Catherine C. Blake sentenced Antonio McKiver, age 47, of Baltimore, today to 235 months in prison followed by five years of supervised release for use of interstate commerce facilities in the commission of murder-for-hire, possession with the intent to distribute heroin and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. Judge Blake enhanced McKiver’s sentence upon determining that McKiver is an armed career criminal based on three prior convictions for violent felonies and drug offenses.

The sentence was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Rod J. Rosenstein; Special Agent in Charge Stephen E. Vogt of the Federal Bureau of Investigation; Baltimore City State’s Attorney Gregg L. Bernstein; and Baltimore Police Commissioner Anthony W. Batts.

“There are other hit men like Antonio McKiver who commit drug-related murders in Baltimore,” said U.S. Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein. “Our challenge is to catch them before the next murder so we don't need to chase them afterwards.”

According to his plea agreement, on June 7, 2012 McKiver told a confidential informant that he was willing to be paid in cash and by drugs to carry out a murder.  The next week McKiver met with an undercover FBI agent and agreed to commit a murder of a drug “associate” of the undercover agent for $15,000 and a kilogram of drugs. McKiver asked the undercover agent to provide the gun.

Thereafter, a cell phone used to arrange the murder and $600 were mailed to McKiver.  On July 23, 2012, the undercover agent met McKiver in the parking lot of a hotel in Baltimore County, gave McKiver $5,000, a kilogram of heroin and a .9mm semi-automatic pistol.  The undercover agent described the intended victim in detail to McKiver and pointed out the vehicle that the intended victim was using.  After the undercover agent left and while McKiver waited in the parking lot for the victim, McKiver was arrested.

Agents executed a search warrant at McKiver’s house and seized a .40 caliber semi-automatic pistol and a 20 gauge shotgun.  McKiver had previously been convicted of a felony and was prohibited from possessing the guns.

United States Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein commended the FBI, Baltimore Police Department and Baltimore City State’s Attorney’s Office for their work in the investigation.  Mr. Rosenstein thanked Assistant United States Attorneys James G. Warwick and James Wallner, who prosecuted the case.