Man Sentenced to Prison for Solicitation of Murder Using ‘Dark Web’ Internet
Author: District Attorney
Date: 9/10/2019 1:37 PM
District Attorney Dan Dow announced today that Beau Evan Brigham (33) has been sentenced to three years in State Prison for the solicitation of the murder of his stepmother who lives in San Luis Obispo. He was found guilty by a San Luis Obispo County jury on August 14, 2019.
District Attorney Dan Dow announced today the sentencing of Beau Evan Brigham (dob 05-01-86). Less than one month ago, a San Luis Obispo County jury found Brigham guilty of soliciting the murder of his stepmother after a three-week trial that involved introduction of cyber forensic evidence and testimony from expert witnesses and the victim. Judge Jesse J. Marino sentenced Brigham to the lowest possible prison sentence of three years. California law allows this charge to be sentenced up to nine years in prison. Due to credit for the time already served, the defendant will serve approximately four months additional time from today’s date.
“While we recommended more than three years, a prison sentence is the only appropriate punishment for the extraordinary steps Beau Brigham took to anonymously have someone killed,” said District Attorney Dan Dow. “Mr. Brigham tried to anonymously plot and secure the death of his stepmother on the ‘dark web’ when he extensively researched, found, and attempted to secure a hitman. This cowardly criminal used the latest technology to prevent his detection, but he could not successfully hide. I am grateful that the expert staff and resources of our Central Coast Cyber Forensic Laboratory assisted in proving this crime so that it could be successfully prosecuted. And most importantly, I am grateful for the courage of the victim who reluctantly came to court only to endure the rigor of cross examination.”
The investigation into this crime began in May 2018 after national news network correspondent Peter van Sant of CBS News’ 48-Hours contacted District Attorney Dan Dow and provided the initial tip via a Skype conference call. The tip was based on information that had been captured from the dark web by Chris Monteiro, a concerned citizen and cyber expert residing within the United Kingdom who had provided information that assisted prosecutions in other jurisdictions.
The District Attorney’s Office Bureau of Investigations immediately contacted the San Luis Obispo Police Department who took the lead role in investigating this murder-for-hire plot. The joint investigation confirmed that, in April of 2018, Brigham had solicited the murder of his stepmother through a murder-for-hire website on the dark web, Cosa Nostra.
This case was prosecuted by Deputy District Attorney Michael Frye and investigated by the San Luis Obispo Police Department and the District Attorney's Bureau of Investigation.
Read more in a previous press release here. A copy of the defendants booking photo can be found here.
Please contact Assistant District Attorney Eric J. Dobroth at 805.781.5819 with any questions.
