LAKELAND, FL -- Gregory Todd Smith's name was released to the public by the Hillsborough County State Attorney's office this week.
Smith said since that happened, he's been bombarded by media and misinformation that has put his family's safety at risk.
Smith is a man with a checkered past tainted with several arrests. It's that past that led Smith to suspect Dee Dee Moore.
He reportedly became a confidential informant for authorities after he allegedly made a phone call to Abraham Shakespeare's mother pretending to be the lotto winner, so she'd believe her son was alive.
According to Smith and official documents, Moore asked Smith if he knew anyone who would take a murder rap for a $50,000 pay off.
Smith said for months he lived a double life as he worked with Polk County investigators to find Shakespeare's body and it finally paid off when Moore allegedly took Smith and an unidentified man to where the lotto winner was buried.
Smith said, "It was actually a point of relief that its done and you know its over and we don't have to guesstimate anymore."
According to Smith, the case stopped being about Moore and became an obsession to find Shakespeare so that his mother and family could have some peace.
Smith said he and Shakespeare are connected for life, saying, "If he's listening I want him to know job well done. Thank you for being the friend that you were, thank you for everything that you have done for me and the community because you had a heart of gold and you helped a lot of people out."
