South Florida Man Used the USPS To Solicit a Hitman Sentenced to 7 Years in Prison

November 10, 2022 Don Pumphrey, Jr. Criminal Defense, News & Announcements, Violent Crimes Social Share

A man in Florida has just been arrested and charged with the federal crime of murder for hire after trying to get his ex’s new partner murdered. We will provide details on the case, along with information on murder charges in Florida versus federal charges.

What Happened?

In September 2021, Ryan Hadeed sent a letter in the mail to an intended hitman requesting the death of his ex-girlfriend’s new partner. According to Florida’s Department of Justice news release, the first written letter stated: “I need someone eliminated. I’ve been told you can arrange that. $10,000 All in cash and upfront. Person located in Tampa.”

Hadeed sent instructions to the hitman in two more letters, which requested that he accept the offer by placing a marked sheet of paper in a store-front window. The final letter was received on November 10^th, 2021.

This last letter included descriptions and pictures of the intended victim. Hadeed also sent the hitman the victim’s home address and likely schedule, along with an intended deadline for the murder. The last item in the letter was $10,000 in cash.

On the same day that the hitman received the letter, Hadeed took a one-way ticket out of the country. It was not until the secondary customs inspection when Hadeed returned to the U.S. that additional evidence was found. Police officers who were made aware of the attempted murder-for-hire arrested Hadeed at Miami International Airport on December 15^th, 2021. The case was filed against him in December 2021 by federal prosecutors.

Hadeed was charged with using mail to commit murder-for-hire, which is a violation of federal law. The defendant pleaded guilty to the charges against him earlier this year. On Wednesday, October 26^th, 2022, Hadeed was sentenced to 84 months in federal prison for attempted murder for hire. After his prison sentence, Hadeed will be placed on probation for 3 years.

Murder Charges in Florida vs Federal Charges

Florida Statute § 777.04, codifies the crimes of conspiracy, attempt, and solicitation of another person to commit a criminal act. A common example of a conspiracy or solicitation is a murder-for-hire case like the one above.

Solicitation occurs when an individual solicits another to commit a criminal offense, and during the solicitation they command, encourage, hire, or request another individual to perform specific conduct which would constitute the criminal act or an attempt to commit the criminal act. Essentially, this crime occurs when a person asks another individual to help them commit a crime or commit a crime themselves.

A criminal Conspiracy occurs when an individual agrees, conspires, combines, or confederates with another individual or multiple individuals to commit any criminal act. This agreement can take many forms, and a conviction can still occur even if the intended criminal act did not occur.

Depending on the specific facts, if the person conspires with one or more people to kill someone else, or if they solicit another individual, Florida law will punish the individual accordingly. This is because conspiracy, attempt, and solicitation are punished based on the underlying offense. Depending on the severity of the penalty solicited or conspired, these charges are punishable by one less degree than the underlying offense.

To learn more about conspiracy, attempt, and solicitation, follow our link here.

Although most murder charges are codified under each State’s jurisdiction, there are some instances in which it becomes a federal crime. A murder-for-hire crime is considered a federal crime if the killing can only be accomplished by traveling over state lines (victim included). It is also considered a federal crime if the communication for the murder for hire was requested over the phone, mail, or internet.

The following is a list of circumstances of killings that can be charged as a federal crime:

• Murder of an elected or appointed federal official
• Murder of a Federal Judge or law enforcement official
• Murder of the immediate family member of law enforcement official
• Murder with the design to influence the outcome of a court case
• Murder committed during a bank robbery
• Murder aboard a ship
• Murder by mail
• Murder for hire

Federal Charges; Murder for Hire

Under U.S. Code §1958 murder-for-hire is defined as the use of interstate commerce facilities with the intent to commit a murder for the promise of payment. The law states that it is unlawful for a person to travel or cause another to travel with the intent of killing a victim. The law also states that it is against the law to agree to or promise to pay anything of pecuniary value, or conspires to do so, with the intended outcome of killing another person.

“Anything of pecuniary value” refers to any form of money, negotiable instrument, commercial interest, or anything else with the primary purpose of granting an economic advantage.

Any person who violates this law can be charged with a fine and face up to ten years in prison, or both. The penalties are more extensive if any personal injury results from the murder-for-hire attempt, which can lead to up to twenty years in prison. If the murder for hire results in the death of the victim, it is punishable with either life in prison or the death penalty.

Finding a Defense Attorney in Tallahassee, Florida

It’s important to understand the differences between state and federal charges. If you or a loved one have been accused of a crime in the state of Florida, it is advised to reach out to a skilled defense attorney. Don Pumphrey and his team at Pumphrey Law Firm represent clients across the state for various criminal charges. Contact us today for a free consultation at (850) 681-7777 or leave us an online message on our website.

Written by Karissa Key

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