Police: Lansing woman tried to hire undercover agent to kill boyfriend

LANSING — A Lansing woman tried to hire an undercover federal agent in May to kill her live-in boyfriend, according to court records.

Lansing police were approached by a confidential informant who said Sheri Ann Ward, 45, asked him to kill her 59-year-old boyfriend, an officer testified in June during a court hearing. Ward is charged with solicitation of murder.

The informant, who had an ongoing drug case, told police Ward said her boyfriend was beating her up and wouldn’t let her have any money, the officer testified. The officer added that the informant told Ward he had someone coming up to “take care” of the confidential informant in his case and could do the same for her.

The informant said Ward offered to get him an attorney for his drug case and give him some of the payout from her boyfriend’s life insurance policy.

Police set up audio and video surveillance and had the informant meet with Ward. During the recorded conversation, the two discussed the arrangements of the killing, the officer testified.

Police also set up two meetings with Ward and an undercover agent from the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, who posed as a “hired gun from out of state,” the officer testified. That recorded conversation also included a discussion about the arrangement and payment for the killing, the officer testified.

Ward and her boyfriend are facing drug charges in related cases. They have the same Lansing address, according to court records. Ward’s solicitation of murder charge is a separate case.

Issa Haddad, Ward’s attorney, said the comments his client made to the confidential informant and agent were taken out of context. He added that the informant was trying to get out of his own charges.

“It’s an unfortunate situation,” Haddad said. “There was never really any intention from Ms. Ward hurt or harm her friend.”

The preliminary hearings for Ward’s cases were conditionally waived in August for the purpose of reaching plea agreements in Ingham County Circuit Court. If agreements aren’t reached, the cases will go back to 54A District Court for preliminary hearings, which will determine if there’s enough evidence for her to stand trial.

She faces up to life in prison.

Haddad said he’s “working on a final resolution” with the Ingham County Prosecuting Attorney’s office and is optimistic one will be reached.

Contact Matt Mencarini at (517) 267-1347 or mmencarini@lsj.com. Follow him on Twitter @MattMencarini.