The murder of a Carrollton investor was part of an elaborate scheme by an Allen Brewery owner to collect insurance money and cover up a federal crime, police say.
Keith Ashley, 48, Allen, was served with murder papers while he was in the Fannin County jail on federal wire fraud charges. Ashley is one of the owners of the popular Nine Band Brewery in Allen.
Ashley used his skills as a registered nurse and an investment advisor to devise a plan to kill James "Jim" Seegan, Carrollton, and collect a $2 million insurance policy.
Seegan was found dead in his home February 19 with a gunshot wound to his head, according to the probable cause affidavit. There was a suicide note nearby.
But the appearance of a suicide did not add up, police say. The gun was found resting on Seegan's left leg. "James had an apparent entry gunshot wound on the left side of his (head) and an exit wound on the right side of his head." the affidavit says. But it goes on that Seegan's wife told police her husband was right handed and not a gun owner.
Investigators found text messages between Seegan and Keith, the papers say. What's more a home security system set up in the interior of Seegan's garage showed Keith at the home around the time a gunshot was recorded.
Police later learned from an autopsy that Seegan had the drug Etomidate in his system. Etomidate is an anesthetic agent used by paramedics, nurses or anesthesiologists. "When Etomidate is injected intravenously, the patient is rendered unconscious almost instantly." the affidavit says. The detective in the case "learned that Keith was a current registered nurse working for City Hospital at White Rock. " Keith routinely administered the drug at the hospital, the papers say.
Carrollton police say they later learned that Keith was a financial advisor to Seegan. As such, they say Keith had convinced Seegan to take out life insurance policies worth $2 million dollars. While Seegan's wife was initially named as the beneficiary, the court papers say Seegan changed the records and designated Keith as the trustee. Keith was also listed as the executor of Seegan's estate, according to the papers. Police say Seegan's wife was unaware of the insurance policies at the time her husband died.
The case appears to tie in to a federal case that was unsealed this week.
Federal court records say Ashley was arrested Friday for wire fraud. The charge lays out a Ponzi scheme that accuses Ashley of cheating investors out of more than $1.1 million since 2013. Ashley used investment money to pay for brewery expenses, casino spending and student loans, according to the documents. Federal authorities have already moved to seize his Allen home and pickup truck.
Ashley has already appeared in Federal court and was ordered held without bond. He was transferred to the Fannin County jail, which is contracted to hold federal prisoners.
Ashley's Allen Brewery had made a splash in the Collin County city, having been featured in numerous stories.
"This is up there with Darlie Routier, the Texas Seven and other crimes that were so heinous and so bizarre that you just can't make this up" said KRLD legal analyst Ed Klein, who credits police with conducting a thorough investigation to expose, what they say is, a staged suicide attempt.
Ashley's Houston attorney did not respond to our request for comment.
Federal court records say Ashley was arrested Friday for wire fraud. The charge lays out a Ponzi scheme that accuses Ashley of cheating investors out of more than $1.1 million since 2013. Ashley used investment money to pay for brewery expenses, casino spending and student loans, according to the documents.
