Woman sentenced in 2023 death of prominent Cincinnati businessman

Video from previous reporting.

CINCINNATI (WXIX) – A woman has now been sentenced in connection with the 2023 death of a prominent Cincinnati businessman.

Kimberly Cragwell will spend three years in prison following her guilty plea to obstruction of justice, according to Hamilton County court records. She will be credited with the 514 days she has already served.

Cragwell was one of two people arrested following the May 13, 2023, shooting of 70-year-old Michael Sweeney.

Sweeney, who had worked in the auto industry for more than four decades, was shot on Interstate 75 near Mitchell Avenue by 37-year-old Randall Mickey, Hamilton County Prosecutor Melissa Powers said in June 2023.

Before the shooting, Sweeney and two women went to the BP gas station on Montana Avenue, Powers explained.

While they were there, one of the women, Cragwell, got out of Sweeney’s car and went to Mickey’s car to buy drugs, Powers previously said.

Cragwell bought the drugs and returned to Sweeney’s car, the prosecutor said.

Mickey believed he had failed and went to Sweeney’s car to confront Cragwell, the prosecutor explained.

Sweeney left the gas station, but Mickey followed him onto I-75 and eventually fired two shots into the 70-year-old’s vehicle, Powers said.

Sweeney, a former St. Xavier High School standout, was shot in the head and crashed his vehicle, the Hamilton County prosecutor said.

Officers arrived on scene and spoke with Cragwell.

She claimed the shooting was the result of road rage, Powers said. That wasn’t the case, as Powers said the investigation showed.

Sweeney was taken to hospital but died two days later on May 15, 2023.

Cincinnati police searched for the suspect during the investigation.

On June 2, 2023, Cincinnati police announced Mickey’s arrest for Sweeney’s murder.

According to Powers, Mickey is not allowed to possess firearms due to previous convictions for heroin and cocaine trafficking.

Mickey previously served five years in prison on drug trafficking and weapons convictions in Clermont County, she added.

He was on parole when Sweeney was shot. Mickey was released from prison on January 30, 2023.

Mickey has been charged with two counts of murder, two counts of assault, two counts of having weapons while under disability and tampering with evidence, Powers said Thursday.

If convicted on all charges, Mickey faces a maximum sentence of life in prison, according to Powers.

Mickey will appear in court again on November 25.

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