Sweetie Pie star James “Tim” Norman has been portrayed by prosecutors in his case as a killer who sought his nephew, Andre Montgomery Jr.’s insurance payout.

According to the St. Louis Dispatch, the prosecution reportedly told jurors that he was desperate for money.

“The evidence will prove it is actually a very simple plan,” Assistant U.S. Attorney Gwendolyn Carroll said in court on Sept. 6.

In 2020, Norman was accused of conspiring to have Montgomery Jr. killed to collect on a life insurance policy. The 21-year-old was shot outside a St. Louis apartment complex in 2016. Prosecutors said the 43-year-old took out several policies on Montgomery Jr. totaling over $450,000 and tried to cash them shortly after his nephew’s death.

The suspected shooter in the incident, identified as Travell Anthony Hill, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit murder-for-hire and said he indirectly received $5,000 to kill the 21-year-old. Exotic dancer Terica Ellis was also charged with conspiracy to commit murder-for-hire as she claimed Norman–her alleged former lover–paid her $10,000 to lure Montgomery Jr. to the location he was shot. Prosecutors reportedly plan to rely on texts, location tracking, recorded jail calls, money trails and statements from three alleged co-conspirators who pleaded guilty and implicated Norman to prove he hired her.

Despite the allegations, Defense Attorney Michael Leonard maintained that his client had no connection to Montgomery Jr.’s death.

“Tim always felt a special bond with Andre, and he felt a special responsibility,” Leonard said.

He added that the Sweetie Pie star collected life insurance policies on his nephew because the young man’s aspiring rap career involved him getting into potentially fatal street beef. Leonard additionally argued that his client was doing well financially and, thus, did not need a fraudulent life insurance policy.