A suspected Las Vegas “hitman,” Michael Coleman, was recently indicted on three additional murder charges connected to an alleged federal loan fraud and gang-related activity. Coleman, 41, initially arrested in May 2023 for the murder of 48-year-old Kidada Stewart, now faces new charges for the deaths of three other men, authorities report, according to the Daily Mail.
The fresh indictment ties Coleman to a complex scheme reportedly involving Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan fraud and retaliatory violence. These newly uncovered charges, resulting from a grand jury investigation, link Coleman to murders dating back to 2021, all of which are believed to be associated with an extensive loan fraud orchestrated by Carl Chester, a known gang leader. The victims, identified as Benjamin McCarty, 49; Marcus Lary, 39; and William Hill Jr., 54, were allegedly killed as retribution for not repaying Chester for their involvement in fraudulent PPP loans.
Chester, who reportedly defrauded the government of millions through fraudulent PPP loans during the COVID-19 pandemic, allegedly demanded cuts from loan participants in exchange for his assistance in defrauding the system. Chester was known to enforce harsh penalties for any non-payment, even reportedly involving hitmen to target delinquent individuals or, if they couldn’t be located, their family members. According to police reports, Coleman was Chester’s enforcer, tasked with executing those who failed to meet their obligations under the fraudulent scheme.
The fallout from Chester’s own violent lifestyle ultimately led to his murder last month, leaving a trail of violence and complex criminal connections in his wake. Both Chester and Coleman have a history of gang-related charges tied to the Rolling 60s Crips in West Las Vegas, with court documents recounting Coleman’s past violent actions, including a 2003 shooting incident over a perceived insult. He had previously served a 12-year federal prison sentence and had expressed remorse to a judge, claiming a desire to make amends with the Las Vegas community.
Since his arrest, Coleman has remained in custody at the Clark County Detention Center. His arraignment on the original charge for Stewart’s murder was scheduled for October 9, with a trial planned for October 14. However, given the new indictments, it remains uncertain if prosecutors will consolidate all charges into a single case.
As investigations unfold, the scale of the alleged loan fraud and retaliatory violence reveals a troubling pattern of organized crime intersecting with pandemic-era relief programs, underscoring potential vulnerabilities within federal aid systems.