NEW ORLEANS, La. – A former Southern University football player from Vicksburg could get life in prison for hiring hit men to kill a friend who stole from him.
Federal jurors in Louisiana convicted Nemessis Bates this week of soliciting a crime of violence, use of interstate commerce to commit murder-for-hire, causing death by shooting and conspiracy to possess firearms. He will be sentenced September 9.
Prosecutors said Bates paid Aaron Smith and Walter Porter $20,000 in 2010 to kill Christopher Smith, who died after being shot at least 20 times. Aaron Smith earlier pleaded guilty and is waiting to be sentenced. Porter is still scheduled for trial.
