 The inmate gave Ballard a handwritten letter from an undercover agent posing as the "killer," which included contact information and notice that the "work" would be completed upon receipt of $5,000.Ballard called the undercover agent four times on September 26, 2012, and the following day, Ballard directed that the $5,000 payment be sent to the address provided by the undercover agent.On March 17, 2014, Ballard was sentenced to 20 years imprisonment.