Influencer gets 40 years in prison for girlfriend’s death after blaming it on dog

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Cash Cartier, a social media influencer, has received a 40-year prison sentence for the death of his girlfriend in 2023. He had originally told authorities that his dog attacked her.

On April 7th, the Tarrant County District Attorney announced that Kaleb Mickens, 34, was sentenced after pleading guilty to aggravated assault and family violence. These charges stemmed from the death of Sheila Cuevas, who he assaulted and drugged on October 8, 2023.

In addition to his main sentence, Mickens received 20 years for violating his probation stemming from a previous aggravated assault conviction that caused serious injuries, and another 15 years for an aggravated assault with a weapon in Dallas County. Prosecutors stated both of these separate incidents involved different former partners.

Prosecutors say dog attack claim was false

The district attorney’s office stated that Mickens contacted authorities on the day Cuevas died, telling them she wasn’t breathing and that his dog, Soldier, had attacked her.

According to the District Attorney’s statement, animal control took the dog and later determined it wasn’t responsible for Ms. Cuevas’ injuries or death.

According to a press release, several women spoke in court on Monday, sharing powerful statements about the abuse they suffered, including emotional torment, physical torture, manipulation, and sexual assault. They each described their own experiences of survival, while also noting that Ms. Cuevas tragically did not survive the abuse.

During the hearing, Sheila Cuevas’s family, including her brother, spoke directly to the person responsible. It was really powerful – they said nothing could bring Sheila back, but they were looking for some kind of consequence and that person deserved to face it. It felt like they just wanted accountability, you know?

Mickens, also known as Cash Cartier, was a key figure in the IM Academy multi-level marketing group. Authorities claim he attracted young people by showcasing a wealthy lifestyle online and falsely promising them high earnings.

I was really affected by the news about Kaleb Mickens getting 40 years. Hearing the impact statements from the women he hurt was just devastating. They described awful things – how he tormented, tortured, and manipulated them, and that included sexual assault. It’s just heartbreaking to think about what they went through.

— Tarrant County DA (@TarrantCountyDA) April 7, 2026

The District Attorney stated that he exploited people by using his apparent wealth and position to intimidate and entice them, concealing a deeply violent side to his personality.

Fox 4 reported that Mickens was once making as much as $20,000 a week, but he wasn’t earning that much by the time Cuevas died.

Assistant district attorney Allenna Bangs told the outlet: “He is a master of manipulation.”

She described him as deeply abusive, explaining that their investigation revealed a pattern of abusive behavior. She stated he is, at his core, an abuser.

Fort Worth lawyer Peter Gieseking explained that issues with the medical examiner’s report affected the charges filed in the case.

The medical examiner had difficulty determining how the victim died, which prevented us from filing murder charges. Instead, he was charged with a serious felony. However, the exact events of that day remain unclear, Gieseking said.

Bangs portrayed Cuevas as a highly accomplished individual – a former valedictorian with a graduate degree – who nevertheless fell into difficult circumstances and, despite having a supportive family, was unable to escape them.

In January, Christopher and Raquelle Judge, a couple known for their home renovation content online, admitted to defrauding customers out of approximately $5 million between August 2020 and January 2023.

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2026-04-08 18:49