Jefferson County Man Convicted of Plotting Alabama Prosecutor’s Murder from Jail

A man from Jefferson County, Michael Roman Black, has been found guilty of plotting the murder of a federal prosecutor in Birmingham while in jail. The federal jury reached its decision on Thursday. Black, 32, was convicted of threatening to kill the prosecutor, soliciting the murder, and lying to a federal agent.

The case was handled by prosecutors from the Middle District of Alabama since the threat was made against a prosecutor based in Birmingham.

Black has a long criminal record. He was convicted in 2011 for the shooting death of an 18-year-old in Bessemer. At the time, both Black and the victim were 18. Initially charged with murder, Black later pleaded guilty to a reduced charge of manslaughter.

In February 2023, Black was jailed in Hoover after facing new federal charges for drugs and weapons offenses. While in custody, Black told another inmate about his plan to have two of his associates kill the prosecutor handling his case. He even shared specific details, saying he wanted the prosecutor shot while she was in her car.

Authorities quickly learned of the plot and confirmed its seriousness. Law enforcement successfully prevented the murder plan from happening.

When questioned, Black lied to federal agents to cover up his intentions. In March 2023, a federal grand jury charged Black with threatening to kill a federal official, soliciting murder, and making false statements to federal agents.

The Acting U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Alabama, Kevin P. Davidson, emphasized the severity of the crime, stating, “A threat against a prosecutor or law enforcement professional is a serious offense and a direct attack against our system of justice.”

Black now faces up to 10 years in prison for the threat, 20 years for soliciting murder, and 5 years for lying to federal agents. His sentencing is scheduled for December 12.

The case was investigated by multiple agencies including the DEA, FBI, U.S. Marshals Service, ATF, Hoover police, and Jefferson County sheriff’s deputies.

In 2011, Black was initially charged with murder for the killing of 18-year-old Luman Jones but later pleaded guilty to manslaughter in 2014. He was sentenced to 10 years in prison for that crime, but it’s unclear how long he actually served. Black also has previous convictions for burglary and drug possession. He still faces other state charges.