Florida Woman Pleads Guilty To Attempted Hit On Ex's New Spouse Using Bitcoin

A Florida woman has admitted to trying to hire a hitman with Bitcoin in order to kill her ex's new spouse.

DeAnna Marie Stinson, 50, has pleaded guilty to murder-for-hire and, as a result, faces up to 10 years in federal prison, the United States Attorney's Office for the Middle District of Florida announced Thursday in a press release.

Federal agents arrested the Tampa-based woman back in September, claiming she had attempted to use a so-called "dark web" site "that purported to provide murder-for-hire services to its customers” back in June. The day after she set up an account on that site, according to the press release, Stinson submitted an “order” to request that ex’s current spouse be killed.

“In the order, Stinson provided the victim’s name, address, and a photograph of the victim,” the press release states. “Between June and July 2021, Stinson sent four additional orders and more than $12,000 in Bitcoin to effectuate the hit.”

DeAnna Stinson Photo: Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office

Officials claim that Stinson even “repeatedly messaged administrators” of the site, which has not been named, requesting the job be completed as soon as possible. Furthermore, she offered a “bonus” if the hit was completed by a certain date, the press release states.

In late July, she requested that the administrators “reassign the job to someone who has a history of getting jobs done” because she required that it be "done ASAP,” according to the feds.

A federal agent then contacted Stinson while posing as a hitman for the site. 

“In a recorded phone call, Stinson confirmed that she wanted the victim killed and agreed to send additional money to the undercover agent via Bitcoin so that the transaction could not be traced,” the press release states. “On September 13, 2021, Stinson sent $350 in Bitcoin to the undercover agent so that the agent could purchase a revolver to commit the murder.”

A sentencing date has yet to be set for Stinson.