COLUMBUS, Ohio – A man who admitted to shooting and killing another man during a drug deal has been sentenced to 14 to 19.5 years in prison. Michael Thilat, 31, pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter for the death of Anthony Luney, 56, whose body was found in his Mini Cooper on Interstate 71 near Morse Road in Columbus on May 14, 2022.
The court records stated that Luney’s vehicle was traveling northbound at around 60 mph and was seen “bouncing off the center median wall” before officers found him with a gunshot wound to the torso. Thilat was later arrested for unrelated felony warrants, during which he admitted to shooting Luney during a drug deal that turned into an altercation at a convenience store.
Thilat’s lawyers originally filed a notice of evidence claiming that he shot Luney in self-defense, but prosecuting attorneys ultimately accepted a plea deal for involuntary manslaughter with a three-year firearm specification. This led to Thilat being immediately sentenced to serve his prison term, with credit for time already served amounting to over 600 days.
The Franklin County Court of Common Pleas judge handed down the sentence, taking into account the nature of the crime and the plea agreement. The case serves as a reminder of the consequences and criminal charges resulting from violent altercations and the illegal drug trade in the Columbus area. Thilat’s guilty plea and sentencing reflect the legal process at work to bring justice to the victim’s family and serve as a deterrent to others involved in similar criminal activities.