State vs. Sheldon Ross
Murder
Lead: Soni Lewis
Pick: Scott Wells
DA Investigator: Darrell Simmons
DA Victim Advocate: Sandra Walker
Investigating Agency: Dallas Police Department
The defendant owned a security company that provided both legitimate and illegitimate businesses with armed security. Most of his employees were either felons or homeless young women. The defendant provided them (including the felons) with uniforms and firearms. He seldom paid his employees for the hours they worked, but the employees had no real recourse because they were felons carrying guns and working at illegal gaming houses. However, one of his employees, Parolee Mykael Hill, decided to take matters into his own hands. Mr. Hill recruited another employee, 23-year-old LaDominique Roney.
On January 5, 2022, they orchestrated a “robbery” of an illegal game room. When the defendant found out about their involvement in the aggravated robbery, he shot and killed LaDominique Roney at an undetermined location. On January 6, 2022, at approximately 6:48 a.m., Mr. Roney’s body was found at 1600 Arrow Road, Dallas, Texas, by a young man on his way to work.
Additionally, in March 2023, Mr. Ross was convicted of Aggravated Assault Family Violence, and the jury sentenced him to 20 years in prison with a $10,000 fine. The same trial team tried that case as well.
In total, Mr. Ross was sentenced to 100 years in prison.
GUILTY and sentenced to 80 years in prison.
State vs. Perfecto Jesus Luna
Continuous Sexual Abuse of a Child under 14
Lead: Joel Abraham
2nd Chair: Michelle Shughart
DA Investigator: Barry Maxwell with help from the Child Abuse Investigators
DA Victim Advocate: Franchesca Zarate
Investigating Agency: Irving Police Department
The defendant was convicted of Continuous Sexual Abuse of a Child under the age of 14. He waived his right to appeal and pleaded guilty to a second case as well.
GUILTY and sentenced to 40 years in prison.
State vs. Pedro Almeida
Continuous Sexual Abuse of a Child under 14
Lead: Michelle Shughart
2nd Chair: Deborah Bankhead
DA Investigators: Tomicka McCloud with help from Laura Brakefield, Lorraine Resendez, Joseph Mundy, and Howard Sparks
DA Victim Advocate: Leslie Gutierrez
Investigating Agency: Irving Police Department
The defendant was convicted of continuously sexually abusing a child under the age of 14.
GUILTY and sentenced to 30 years in prison.
State vs. Olantunde Adepegda
Murder
Lead: Reginal Johnson
2nd Chair: Robin Pittman
DA Investigator: Martin Bosse & Reggie Woods
DA Paralegal: LaTonya Peoples
Investigating Agency: Dallas Police Department
The defendant murdered his landlord after the landlord caught him attempting to break into the duplex where the other tenants lived. The defendant shot the landlord 11 times and went into his side of the duplex and acted like nothing happened.
GUILTY and sentenced to 25 years in prison.
State vs. Shamkea Khalid
Murder
Lead: Adam Seiffert
2nd Chair: Jerry Varney
DA Investigator: LaUnice Jackson
DA Victim Advocate: Shelby Randle
Investigating Agency: Dallas Police Department
The defendant and victim were dating. The defendant began fighting with other people at a party. She eventually turned her anger to her boyfriend, the victim. As the victim and defendant were arguing outside the car, the defendant shot the victim and fled the scene.
The jury found her guilty of the lesser charge of manslaughter.
GUILTY and sentenced to 20 in prison.
State vs. Tony Smith
Manslaughter
Prosecutor: Kristin Treager
DA Investigators: Bill Martinez & Ron Cathcart
DA Paralegal: Maria Cantrell
Investigating Agency: Detective Scott Sayers – Dallas Police Department
In 2022, the victim and his family were visiting the United States for the Christmas and New Year holidays. On January 6th, the victim, who was on his way ‘home’ was stopped at a red light along with other vehicles in heavy rush hour traffic on Great Trinity Forest Way. Meanwhile, the defendant was driving a Toyota Camry approaching the same intersection from behind. Crash Data Retrieval from the defendant’s vehicle revealed he was accelerating in the moments leading up to the collision. His last recorded speed was 119 miles per hour, with 100% throttle input, and no brakes applied. The defendant hit the victim’s vehicle, shearing off the driver's side and violently tossing the car into the vehicles in front. The victim’s vehicle came to a rest on its roof. Due to his speed, the defendant careened through 9 more vehicles and came to a stop 178 feet away from the initial impact area.
After testimony from family and experts, the Judge sentenced the defendant to 15 years in prison with an affirmative finding of a deadly weapon (a motor vehicle).
GUILTY plea and sentenced to 15 years in prison with a deadly weapon finding.
