Milan murder-for-hire suspect sentenced to prison

TOLEDO — A federal judge handed down a five-year prison sentence to a Milan woman Monday after she apologized for trying to hire a hitman to kill her daughter's ex-husband.U.S. District Court Judge James Carr sentenced Sandra Haughawout, 71, of Perrin Road, on a single charge of solicitation to commit a crime of violence. Carr said with good behavior and credit for about eight months she's already served, Haughawout could be released in less than four years.Haughawout admitted paying an undercover FBI agent posing as a hitman $8,000 to have her ex-son-in-law killed. She was arrested in June 2018. The prosecution initially said Haughawout could face up to 20 years in prison, but during the sentencing U.S. Attorney Tracey Tangeman said that wasn't the case. Tangeman said the correct maximum sentence was only five years.Haughawout apologized to the victim, identified as Joseph Micheal Case, who was in the courtroom. In a statement, she said she brought shame to her family."I want to apologize to Joseph," Haughawout said. "I take responsibility for my actions."Tangeman said that, considering letters of support of Haughawout and court filings made by her attorney, attorney David Klucas, the prosecution doesn't doubt descriptions of her as "loving, good person." Tangeman did dismiss claims by Klucas that Haughawout was "manipulated" by an FBI informant to commit the crime.Tangeman also said that Joseph Case's two children were the biggest victims of all."Imagine: Two young boys, your grandmother tried to have your father killed and took steps to make it happen," Tangeman said.Klucas said he agreed with Tangeman's remark, and that Haughawout acknowledged it also. Klucas said while his client did not appear to show regrets after her arrest in June 2018, she feels that way now."The conduct here is really egregious," Klucas said. "At the time of the offense, there was an absence of remorse. That is not the case now."Klucas also emphasized that the case exacerbated "long-suppressed" mental health issues for Haughawout, and stressed to Carr that she be placed on a mental health treatment plan.Carr said he would recommend Haughawout be sent to a prison that can facilitate her mental health needs."I can only say I hope this brings some measure of finality to the former son-in-law, but that's not for me to say," Carr said.Carr also fined Haughawout $8,000, the amount she used to pay the FBI agent posing as a hitman, at the request of the prosecutor. Tangeman said this was because there was no statute for forfeiture in Haughawout's case.Haughawout has 14 days to file a notice of appeal. Reach reporter Brandon Addeo at brandonaddeo@sanduskyregister.com, follow him on Twitter @BrandonAddeo and follow the Register at Facebook.com/SanduskyRegisterSandra Lee HaughawoutHaughawout was sentenced Monday at Toledo's U.S. District Court on Spielbusch Avenue.