A TikToker from Texas has now been sentenced to ten years in prison after fleeing from the police in an allegedly stolen car. However, he had already been on the radar of U.S. law enforcement long before that.
The influencer Michael "Hellkat Mike" Wilson promotes his auto repair shop through his social media channels. He mainly works on Hellcat cars, a model by the brand Dodge. At first, that's nothing that would land you in prison, right? In Mike’s case, however, it did, because his advertising concept consisted of police chases, allegedly in stolen cars.
How Social Media Sent Him To Prison
On his channels, the influencer uploads several videos of police chases in which officers were trying to initiate traffic stops. According to Michael Wilson, the reason for this was to promote his shop, where he buys and sells Dodge Hellcats.
It can be assumed that the police had been on his trail for quite some time. During his last drive, one that would keep Wilson off the road for a long time, justice ultimately prevailed.
When he once again evaded a traffic stop, he rammed the trailer of a pickup truck. Police reports state that he was driving way too fast and forced his way through traffic at excessive speed. With this behavior behind the wheel, an accident was inevitable.
The chase ended with his arrest on the highway, but that wasn’t even the most astonishing part. Aside from publicly posting his illegal behavior, he also had a passenger, a French bulldog, as well as alcohol and steroids with him inside the car.
But even in this situation, the influencer seemed eager to promote his Instagram profile – right in front of the police officer.
If you check out my Instagram, I’ve got a huge following for working on cars.
No Way Back – Wilson Pleads Guilty
Hellkat Mike was initially denied release on bail. The reason was his long list of prior convictions, including assault and trespassing. However, his lawyers argued that this constituted a violation of his constitutional rights, which is why he was eventually released on bail.
He was required to comply with several conditions, which he violated again after a very short time. As a result, his bail was increased to $700,000. Whether he slowly realized how hopeless his situation was or whether he had a moment of clarity can only be speculated. What is certain, however, is that Wilson decided to strike a deal with the prosecution.
The content of this deal was that he pleaded guilty to evading arrest, while the charges related to the drugs found were dropped. It was also interesting that he waived his right to a jury trial. In short, this meant that a judge alone would decide his sentence.
Probably not the best move because the judge showed absolutely no mercy and sentenced Michael Wilson to 10 years in prison. Further allegations against the influencer involve the resale of stolen cars, with indications that other individuals may have been involved in these crimes.
You Can Profit From Anything
In the meantime, the book Operation Hellcat Mike – My Side of the Story, written by Michael Wilson, has been released. In the book, he recounts the events surrounding his arrest, with the title being a reference to his own case file.
In the end, however, nothing can be changed about his prison sentence, which may make the streets of San Antonio a little safer for its residents.
What do you think about this? Is the sentence too harsh or absolutely justified? Feel free to share your opinion in the comments!