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Date: 08-09-2019
Case Style:
United States of America v. Katrina (Katie) Danforth, also known as Lynn Pleasant also known as Katy Danforth also known as Katrina Ledsworth also known as Lynn Passion
Case Number: 2:18-cr-00398-BLW
Judge: B. Lynn Winmill
Court: United States District Court for the District of Idaho (Kootenai County)
Plaintiff's Attorney: Bryce Bland Ellsworth and Traci Jo Whelan
Defendant's Attorney: Amy Rubin, John Stephen Roberts, Jr.
Description:
COEUR D’ALENE, ID - Post Falls Woman Admits to Hiring Hitman
Katrina (Katie) Lynn Danforth, 32, of Post Falls, Idaho, pled guilty to two counts of use of interstate commerce facilities in the commission of murder for hire. Danforth was indicted by a federal grand jury in Coeur d’Alene on December 18, 2018.
According to court records, Danforth admitted that in October 2018 she agreed to pay a “hitman” to murder someone. During October and November 2018, she met in person with the hitman, called him on the phone and mailed him a thank you card with a $2,500 cash down payment. The hitman was actually an undercover police officer and Danforth was arrested. Danforth has remained in custody since her arrest in December 2018.
Sentencing for Danforth is set for December 2, 2019 before U.S. District Judge B. Lynn Winmill at the federal courthouse in Coeur d’Alene.
Each count of use of interstate commerce facilities in the commission of murder for hire is punishable by up to ten years in federal prison, a fine of up to $250,000, and a term of supervised release of up to three years.
This case was investigated by the North Idaho Violent Crime Task Force (NIVCTF). The NIVCTF is a FBI sponsored task force comprised of law enforcement from the Kootenai County Sheriff’s Office, Post Falls Police Department, Idaho Department of Correction, and Homeland Security Investigations.
Charge:
USE OF INTERSTATE COMMERCE FACILITIES IN COMMISSION OF MURDER-FOR-HIRE
(1-5)
Outcome: 08/05/2019 Set/Reset Hearings as to Katrina Lynn Danforth: Change of Plea Hearing set for 8/5/2019 10:00 AM in Coeur d Alene - District Courtroom before Judge B. Lynn Winmill. (jlb)
08/05/2019 19 PLEA AGREEMENT as to Katrina Lynn Danforth (Notice sent to USP) (Whelan, Traci)
08/05/2019 20 Minute Entry for proceedings held before Judge B. Lynn Winmill: Change of Plea Hearing as to Katrina Lynn Danforth held on 8/5/2019. Sentencing set for 12/2/2019 at 2:30 PM in Coeur d Alene - District Courtroom before Judge B. Lynn Winmill. (Notice sent to USP & USM) (Court Reporter Tammy Hohenleitner.) (jlb)
Plaintiff's Experts:
Defendant's Experts:
Comments: