A Fort Worth man has been sentenced to a lengthy prison term following the death of his girlfriend, an incident he initially attributed to his dog. Kaleb Mickens, 34, received a 40-year sentence after pleading guilty to first-degree aggravated assault in connection with the death of Sheila Cuevas in 2023. In addition, he faces a 20-year sentence for a probation revocation and 15 years for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon stemming from prior charges in Dallas County.
Prosecutors were unable to pursue a murder charge against Mickens due to complications with the medical examiner’s determination of the cause of death. During the sentencing hearing, several of Mickens’ previous victims spoke out about the abuse they suffered at his hands.
The incident unfolded on October 8, 2023, when Mickens called 911 claiming that his dog, Soldier, had attacked Cuevas, who was found unresponsive at the foot of her bed with multiple broken ribs and puncture wounds. Following the incident, the dog was euthanized, but subsequent investigations revealed that Mickens had drugged and beaten Cuevas, with no involvement from the dog in her injuries.
Known as “Cash Cartier,” Mickens previously participated in the IM Academy, a multi-level marketing scheme that falsely promised financial success under the guise of an educational program. Prosecutors indicated that at its peak, Mickens earned approximately $20,000 per week from the scheme, which had seen a significant decline in revenue at the time of Cuevas’ death. In September 2025, the Federal Trade Commission ordered two individuals associated with IM Academy to pay $10.5 million for misleading claims regarding income potential to lure participants.
Allegations against Mickens paint a picture of a manipulative individual. “He is a master of manipulation,” remarked Allenna Bangs, a Tarrant County assistant district attorney. Investigators discovered that Mickens had a history of abusing over a dozen women. “He inherently is just an abuser, and that was evident from our investigation,” Bangs added.
Peter Gieseking, a Fort Worth attorney, noted the challenges faced in establishing the cause of death, which ultimately prevented a murder charge. “What transpired that day remains unclear,” he stated. Reflecting on Cuevas, Bangs described her as a valedictorian with a graduate degree who found herself in Mickens’ control, unable to escape despite having a supportive family.
