(Trinidad Guardian) A Trinidadian man living in south Florida, who admitted to attempting to hire a hitman to murder his ex-girlfriend’s new lover, has been sentenced to seven years in prison.
Ryan Hadeed, 43, of Pembroke Pines, Florida, pleaded guilty to using the mail to commit murder-for-hire in July but was only sentenced by US District Judge William P Dimitrouleas during a hearing in the US District Court for the Southern District of Florida on Wednesday.
The maximum penalty for the offence is 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
Prosecutors reportedly requested that Hadeed receive a nine-year sentence but the judge decided it should be slightly less.
According to a news release from the US Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida, issued yesterday, in September last year, Hadeed mailed a letter to an intended hit man requesting his services.
The letter said: “I need someone eliminated. I’ve been told you can arrange that. $10,000 all in cash and upfront. Person located in Tampa.”
Hadeed allegedly sent three letters with instructions and told the intended hit man to signal acceptance by marking sheets of paper on a store-front window.
On November 10 last year, Hadeed reportedly sent the intended hitman $10,000, pictures of the intended target, his address, schedule and a deadline for the murder.
Hadeed left the country the same day but was arrested when he returned to the country, after evidence of the crime was allegedly discovered in his suitcase during a secondary customs inspection.
The release also noted that the intended victim is still romantically involved with Hadeed’s former girlfriend.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant US Attorneys Joseph A Cooley and Deric Zacca.