Former Army Man Convicted in Murder-for-Hire and Drug Trafficking Conspiracy

LAREDO, TX—Kevin Corley, a former active duty officer in the U.S. Army, has pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit murder-for-hire, United States Attorney Kenneth Magidson announced today. Corley, 29, of Colorado Springs, Colorado, also entered guilty pleas for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine and marijuana and use and carrying of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime just minutes ago in federal court in Laredo, Texas. Shavar Davis, 29, of Denver, Colorado, also pleaded guilty today to the marijuana and cocaine conspiracy as well as conspiracy to commit murder for hire.

According to the factual basis contained within his plea agreement, Kevin Corley, aka KC, was introduced to undercover agents posing as members of los Zetas cartel on or about September 26, 2011, at which time he claimed to be an active duty officer in the U.S. Army responsible for training soldiers; he further asserted he could provide tactical training for members of the cartel and purchase weapons for them. Corley remained in contact with the undercover agents from approximately September to October 2011 and discussed stealing weapons from military posts and military tactics. On December 23, 2011, he further agreed to perform “wet work,” understood to mean a contract killing of a human target in exchange for money and cocaine.

Approximately two weeks later, Corley traveled to Laredo to meet with undercover agents, at which time the contract killing was discussed as well as a future load of 500 kilograms of marijuana. At the meeting, Corley also sold undercover agents a ballistic vest and Army training manuals, among other items, for $6,000. Agents later met with Corley in Colorado and set a date of March 24 for the killing. At this meeting, he also delivered two AR-15 type assault rifles, ballistic vests, and other equipment in exchange for $10,000.

On March 24, 2012, Corley, Davis, and others traveled to Laredo and met with undercover agents to discuss the location of the intended victim, the logistics of performing the contract kill, and their respective roles, and confirmed they knew the group was to receive $50,000 and five kilograms of cocaine upon the completion of these tasks. They were subsequently arrested and a search of their vehicle revealed two semi-automatic rifles with scopes, one bolt-action rifle with a scope and bipod, one hatchet, one Ka-Bar knife and ammunition.

Corley admitted at the time of his arrest that someone hired him for the killing and that he was to be paid $50,000 and five kilograms of cocaine. He further admitted he and his team brought weapons to Laredo to prove to the agent they were serious about the contract kill. Davis admitted he came to Laredo to serve as a driver for Corley and others, who intended to kill someone on a ranch. Davis admitted during his plea colloquy that he expected to be paid $5,000.

Seven men were ultimately charged with varying offenses in relation to this case. Mario Corley, 40, of Saginaw, Texas, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine in excess of five kilograms and marijuana in excess of 100 kilograms, as did Marcus Mickle, aka Junior, 21, of Hopkins, South Carolina. Mickle also entered a plea to possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. Robert Corley, 23, of Columbia, South Carolina, pleaded guilty to a separate superseding criminal information which charged him with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute marijuana in excess of 100 kilograms. Robert and Mario Corley were convicted August 28, 2012, while Mickle entered his plea September 4.

Robert Corley had admitted, at the time of his plea, to making an agreement with Mario Corley to travel to Charleston, South Carolina to pick up “a bunch of weed,” and test the quality of the marijuana, in addition to helping Mario Corley load the marijuana. Robert Corley stated he was expected to be paid a pound of marijuana. Mario Corley, after his arrest, admitted he knew Kevin Corley and others had traveled to Laredo to kill somebody and that he was going to be paid in cocaine and cash.

The cases against Samuel Walker, 28, of Colorado Springs, Colorado, and Calvin Epps, aka Beef, 28, of Hopkins, South Carolina, are pending. A trial date has not yet been set. They are presumed innocent unless and until convicted through due process of law.

Kevin Corley faces up to 10 years in prison and/or a $250,000 fine for the murder-for-hire conspiracy as does Davis. The convictions against Kevin Corley, Mario Corley, Davis, and Mickle for the marijuana and cocaine conspiracy carry possible punishments of at least 10 years and up to life in prison and a $10 million fine, while Robert Corley faces at least five and up to 40 years in prison. For use of a firearm conviction, Kevin Corley and Mickle face a minimum of five years in prison which must be served consecutive to any other sentence imposed.

The investigation leading to the charges was conducted by the DEA and the FBI with the assistance of U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Division. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Roberto Ramirez and Jody Young.

Scranton Man Charged with Participating in Murder-for-Hire Scheme

The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that a 44-year-old Scranton resident was charged in a superseding indictment returned by a federal grand jury Tuesday with conspiring with Edward McLaughlin to use a facility of interstate commerce to commit a murder-for-hire and possessing and carrying a firearm in relation to and in furtherance of a crime of violence.

According to United States Attorney Peter J. Smith, the grand jury alleges that Gary Williams and Edward McLaughlin conspired with each other to kill McLaughlin’s ex-wife. McLaughlin was charged in the original indictment on July 17, 2012.

The superseding indictment alleges that McLaughlin in 2011 and 2012 solicited Williams to kill McLaughlin’s ex-wife and shipped a Mauser rifle from Florida to Scranton, Pennsylvania, to Williams to use to commit the murder. The superseding indictment alleges that McLaughlin communicated with Williams by letters and telephone calls and on one occasion traveled to meet Williams to help him to more accurately fire the rifle intended to be used to kill McLaughlin’s ex-wife.

The charges against Williams and McLaughlin resulted from an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Scranton Police Department.

Williams and McLaughlin each face a mandatory minimum sentence of five years in prison, and up to life in prison, if convicted of using a firearm in connection to a crime of violence and up to 10 years in prison if convicted of the murder-for-hire scheme. McLaughlin faces up to 20 years in prison if convicted of solicitation to commit murder.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Francis P. Sempa.

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An indictment and criminal information is not evidence of guilt but simply a description of the charge made by the United States Attorney against a defendant. A charged defendant is presumed innocent until a jury returns a unanimous finding that the United States has proved the defendant’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

BERGEN COUNTY WOMAN PLEADS GUILTY IN MURDER-FOR-HIRE PLOT AGAINST RIVAL

NEWARK, N.J. – A Bergen County, N.J., woman today admitted trying to hire a hitman to kill a romantic rival, U.S. Attorney Paul J. Fishman announced.

Nicole Faccenda, 43, of Lyndhurst, N.J., was charged by Complaint in October 2011 with offering to pay someone to kill the woman for whom her estranged, long-time boyfriend had left her. She pleaded guilty today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Patty Shwartz to an Information charging her with one count of using the mail and facilities of commerce with the intent that a murder be committed for payment. Faccenda was remanded pending sentencing before U.S. District Judge Faith S. Hochberg.

According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:

Faccenda had been in a long-term relationship with a man with whom she had a child; that relationship ended when the man began a relationship with another woman, with whom he also had a child. On Oct. 19, 2011, Faccenda contacted a person she knew and trusted in Florida and told this person she wanted help in finding someone to kill her ex-boyfriend's girlfriend. She told this acquaintance she had a black dress ready to wear to the intended victim's funeral and would "spit on the casket." The acquaintance contacted federal authorities and the next day spoke again with Faccenda – a conversation that was recorded by agents of the ATF. The acquaintance told Faccenda he had found a person to do the murder. The acquaintance and an undercover ATF task force officer posing as a hitman then met with Faccenda in New Jersey to arrange the murder.

Faccenda agreed to pay the undercover hitman $5,000 in advance and $5,000 after the intended victim was killed. In a number of recorded conversations, Faccenda said she wanted the woman to be gone and her boyfriend to be miserable. She said she wanted the girlfriend shot in the head, that the boyfriend could be shot in the foot, and if something happened to the girlfriend's children, "Oh, well, I'm sorry."

On Oct. 24, Faccenda met with her acquaintance from Florida in a Secaucus gas station parking lot and gave him an envelope with $2,000 for the purported hitman. Over the next few hours, she provided information, including a name, photo, work schedule and license plate number of the intended victim. On Oct. 26, the friend called Faccenda and told her the victim had been shot in the head and it had been made to look like a robbery. Faccenda was arrested at work by ATF agents a short time later.

The murder-for-hire count to which Faccenda pleaded guilty is punishable by a maximum potential penalty of 10 years and a $250,000 fine. Sentencing is scheduled for Nov. 14, 2012

U.S. Attorney Fishman credited special agents of the ATF under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Matthew Horace with the investigation that led to these charges.

The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Serina M. Vash of the U.S. Attorney's Office in Newark.

Triggerman Found Guilty in Murder-for-Hire

TAMPA—On Friday, August 3, 2012, a federal jury found Luis Angel Lopez (24, Hillsborough County) guilty of conspiring and using the mail or a facility of interstate commerce with the intent to commit murder and using a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence that caused a death. He faces a penalty of life in federal prison. Lopez was indicted in May 2011, along with Cristie Fay Bottorff and Jerry Alan Bottorff. Lopez is scheduled to be sentenced on October 18, 2012.

Thomas Lee Sehorne was murdered on June 7, 2007, in Lithia, Florida. At the time of the murder, Cristie Bottorff was married to Sehorne and involved in an affair with Jerry Bottorff. The evidence presented at trial revealed that the murder was procured by Cristie and Jerry Bottorff and accomplished with the assistance of Michael Garcia, who served as a middle-man or broker to Lopez. Lopez, the triggerman, was to be paid $60,000 for the murder. Sehorne was killed for $1 million dollars in life insurance proceeds that he held for his wife and two minor children.

Cristie Bottorff and Jerry Bottorff both pled guilty to all charges on July 9, 2012, and testified against Lopez during the trial, along with Garcia. Both Cristie and Jerry Bottorff are scheduled to be sentenced on October 22, 2012. Michael Garcia remains in jail on unrelated drug charges.

The case was investigated by the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office, Federal Bureau of Investigation, and Florida Department of Law Enforcement. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Terry Furr and Tom Palermo, with investigative assistance from Assistant United States Attorney Jeff Downing.

Federal Grand Jury Indicts Tarrant County Man in Murder-for-Hire Case

Ryan Walker Grant Operated Sexually Oriented Business in Arlington

FORT WORTH, TX—A federal grand jury in Fort Worth has indicted Ryan Walker Grant, 34, Kennedale, Texas, on one count of murder-for-hire and one count of the unlawful transfer of a firearm, announced U.S. Attorney Sarah R. Saldaña of the Northern District of Texas.

Grant has been in custody since his arrest on April 9, 2012, on a related charge outlined in a criminal complaint filed the previous day.

The indictment alleges that Grant plotted a murder-for-hire in early April 2012 and that in November 2011, Grant transferred a Norinco semi-automatic rifle to an individual, knowing that individual was a convicted felon.

Grant is a co-owner of Flashdancer, a sexually oriented business in Arlington, Texas, that had been the subject of a nuisance lawsuit filed by the Texas Attorney General’s Office and the city of Arlington, which resulted in the club’s closing. According to the criminal complaint filed in the case and testimony at Grant’s preliminary and detention hearing, Grant tried to hire individuals from Mexico, through an intermediary, to kill Arlington Mayor Robert Cluck and Tom Brandt, a Dallas attorney who represents the city of Arlington in cases involving sexually oriented businesses. Grant was angry at the men because he felt that they were costing him money by trying to prevent him from re-opening Flashdancer.

On April 3, 2012, Grant handed the intermediary, who was actually a confidential informant, photographs and contact information of the two individuals that he wanted killed. Grant offered to pay $10,000 per murder victim, for a total of $20,000, upon completion of the murders. During the next few days, Grant and the intermediary spoke via cell phones, and during those conversations, Grant directed the intermediary to not proceed with the murders until they could meet to discuss the matter further. On April 9, 2012, the intermediary and Grant met at Grant’s residence, where Grant confirmed that he wanted Mayor Cluck killed. The intermediary left Grant’s residence, and Grant was arrested shortly thereafter. Law enforcement executed a search warrant at Grant’s residence at that time and seized 22 firearms and nearly $150,000 in cash.

An indictment is an accusation by a federal grand jury, and a defendant is entitled to the presumption of innocence unless proven guilty. However, if convicted, each count of the indictment carries a maximum statutory sentence of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

The investigation is being conducted by the FBI and the Drug Enforcement Administration. Assistant U.S. Attorney Chris Wolfe is in charge of the prosecution.

Florida Man Charged with Scranton Murder-for-Hire Scheme

The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that a 63-year-old Florida resident was indicted today by a federal grand jury in Scranton on charges of conspiracy to use a facility of interstate commerce to commit a murder-for-hire; solicitation to commit a crime of violence; and possessing and carrying a firearm in connection to a crime of violence.

According to United States Attorney Peter J. Smith, the grand jury alleges that Edward McLaughlin, a resident of Cape Coral, Florida, conspired with another person to kill McLaughlin’s ex-wife in Scranton, Pennsylvania.

The indictment alleges that McLaughlin in 2011 and 2012 solicited another person to kill his ex-wife and shipped a Mauser rifle from Florida to Scranton, Pennsylvania, to a co-conspirator to use to commit the murder. The indictment alleges that McLaughlin communicated with his co-conspirator by letters and telephone calls.

The charges against McLaughlin resulted from an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Scranton Police Department. McLaughlin was apprehended by federal agents in Cape Coral, Florida, on June 21, 2012.

McLaughlin faces a mandatory minimum sentence of five years in prison and up to life in prison if he is convicted of using a firearm in connection to a crime of violence; up to 20 years in prison if convicted of solicitation to commit murder; and up to 10 years in prison if convicted of the murder-for-hire scheme.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Francis P. Sempa.

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An indictment and criminal information is not evidence of guilt but simply a description of the charge made by the United States Attorney against a defendant. A charged defendant is presumed innocent until a jury returns a unanimous finding that the United States has proved the defendant’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

Federal Correctional Officer Charged in Murder-for-Hire Scheme

SPRINGFIELD, MO—David M. Ketchmark, Acting United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, announced a correctional officer at the U.S. Medical Center for Federal Prisoners in Springfield, Missouri, was charged in federal court today with hiring someone to kill his wife’s ex-husband.

Robert W. Jones, 41, of Springfield, was charged in a criminal complaint filed in the U.S. District Court in Springfield with using a telephone with the intent that a murder be committed for payment. Jones, who was arrested this morning when he allegedly met with the hitman (actually an undercover FBI agent), remains in federal custody.

According to an affidavit filed in support of today’s criminal complaint, Jones contacted an inmate at the federal medical center and asked him to assist in hiring a hitman to murder his wife’s ex-husband (referred to as “John Doe” in public court documents). Jones was aware that the inmate had been in a leadership position in a drug trafficking organization, the affidavit says, and had connections to individuals who could carry out such a request.

The inmate, who was cooperating with investigators, met with Jones for 10 to 15 private conversations in March and April 2012, the affidavit says. Jones allegedly offered to give the inmate a cell phone to call a hitman, avoiding the possibility of the conversation being recorded if the call were placed on a landline at the prison.

As a part of a routine quarterly personnel shift at the medical center, Jones was moved to a different unit and was therefore unable to meet with the inmate for a period of time. The inmate later re-established contact with Jones after being moved to a cell in the same unit that Jones was assigned. According to the affidavit, they met again on June 21, 2012, the first day they were in the unit at the same time. They had multiple meetings during July 2012, the affidavit says, with Jones standing outside the inmate’s jail cell and speaking to him through an opening in the door. All the meetings were captured on the unit’s surveillance system. During one of those meetings, Jones allegedly told the inmate that his wife had left him and took all their belongings except the couch, television, and bills, and he blamed John Doe for his wife’s departure.

An undercover FBI agent posed as a hitman named Chuey, the affidavit says, and the inmate gave Jones a telephone number to contact Chuey. Jones allegedly contacted Chuey and made arrangements to meet in the food court located inside the Battlefield Mall in Springfield this morning. At that meeting, the affidavit says, Jones told the undercover agent he would pay him $1,500 to murder John Doe and provided the undercover agent with a photograph of John Doe, his home address, and $1,500 in cash. At the conclusion of the meeting, Jones was arrested.

Ketchmark cautioned that the charge contained in this complaint is simply an accusation and not evidence of guilt. Evidence supporting the charge must be presented to a federal trial jury, whose duty is to determine guilt or innocence.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney James J. Kelleher. It was investigated by the U.S. Medical Center for Federal Prisoners Special Investigative Support; the FBI; and the Department of Justice, Office of the Inspector General.