‘Sweetie Pie’s’ reality TV star arrested in Jackson, charged with conspiracy in alleged murder for hire plot in the death of his nephew
Published 11:47 am Wednesday, August 19, 2020
Federal authorities arrested James Timothy Norman, owner of Sweetie Pie’s restaurant on Tuesday for allegedly commissioning a murder-for-hire plot that killed his teenage nephew.
Norman, 41, the star of the reality series “Welcome to Sweetie Pie’s,” was arrested by FBI agents Tuesday in Jackson on charges of conspiracy to use interstate commerce facilities in the commission of a murder-for-hire resulting in death, according to a statement released by the FBI’s Jackson office. Norman is currently being held in the Madison County Detention Center.
An affidavit filed Aug. 11 states Norman is accused of conspiring with an exotic dancer from Memphis. The female suspect also faces one count of conspiracy, the release said.
Norman allegedly conspired with the female suspect and others “to use a facility of interstate commerce, namely, a cellular telephone, to commit a murder-for-hire in exchange for United States currency.
In 2014, Norman obtained a $450,000 life insurance policy on his 18-year-old nephew, Andre Montgomery. Norman was the sole beneficiary, according to the release. In the days leading up to Montgomery’s murder, the female suspect reportedly communicated with Montgomery and told him she was planning to be in St. Louis.
The day before Montgomery’s murder, March 13, 2016, Norman reportedly flew to St. Louis from his home in Los Angeles.
The next day, Norman and the female suspect reportedly used temporary phones they had activated that day to communicate with each other, the release said.
After learning Montgomery’s location, the female suspect immediately placed a call to Norman, according to the release.
That day around 8:02 p.m., Montgomery was shot to death, the release said.
The woman’s “phone location information places her in the vicinity of the murder at time of the homicide,” the release said.
Following Montgomery’s murder, she placed another call to Norman and traveled toward Memphis according to the release. She also deposited over $9,000 in cash into various bank accounts days after the murder.
A week later, Norman contacted the life insurance company and tried to collect on the policy he had taken out on his nephew, the release said.
