An influencer who blamed his girlfriend’s death on his dog has been jailed for 40 years after admitting to a brutal assault.
Kaleb Mickens, 34 – known online as “Cash Cartier” – was sentenced over the 2023 death of Sheila Cuevas.
The Tarrant County District Attorney confirmed he pleaded guilty to first-degree aggravated assault family violence.
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Cuevas died on 8 October 2023 following what prosecutors described as a violent assault and drugging.
On the day of her death, Mickens called 911 claiming she had been attacked by his dog, Soldier.
But authorities later ruled out the animal.
In a statement, the Tarrant County District Attorney’s Office said: “The dog was taken and euthanized by animal control but later determined… to have nothing to do with Ms. Cuevas’ injuries and death.”
Mickens was also sentenced to 20 years for a probation revocation linked to a separate aggravated assault causing serious bodily injury.
He received a further 15 years for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon in Dallas County.
The District Attorney’s Office said each of the offences involved different women Mickens had been in relationships with.
Assistant District Attorney Allenna Bangs said: “He is a master of manipulation.
“He’s just incredibly abusive.”
She added: “He, by his nature, is just an abuser and that’s kind of what we found by investigating his case.”
Fort Worth attorney Peter Gieseking said there were challenges in determining the exact cause of Cuevas’ death.
“There were some complications with the case with the medical examiner proving the cause of death, so we weren’t able to charge him with murder,” he said.
“But ultimately, what happened on that day we don’t really know.”
Prosecutors said Mickens had built a following through an online training platform, presenting himself as successful while concealing a violent private life.
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