Maryland State Wire

Baltimore, Maryland – Matthew Hightower, 43, of Baltimore, has pled guilty to charges related to the murder-for-hire plot resulting in the death of Latrina Ashburne on May 27, 2016. The announcement was made by Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, along with several law enforcement officials.

According to the plea agreement, Hightower conspired to kill a female federal witness who had provided information about his involvement in a health care fraud scheme and the murder of David Wutoh. While incarcerated pre-trial, Hightower communicated with others through jail calls and letters to arrange the killing of this witness.

Ashburne was mistakenly shot and killed outside her home as she entered her car. She was similar in age and appearance to the intended target, who was her next-door neighbor. The shooter Davon Carter and accomplice Clifton Mosley were previously convicted for their roles in this plot.

Hightower faces a maximum life sentence in federal prison. Under his plea agreement, if accepted by the court, he will receive a recommended sentence of 60 years to run consecutively with his current sentence for Wutoh’s murder.

U.S. Attorney Hayes praised various agencies for their investigation efforts and thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kim Y. Hagan and Paul E. Budlow for prosecuting the case.

For more information about resources available from the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, visit justice.gov/usao-md or justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach.