Attorney Allen Gessen Sentenced to 10 Years for Murder-for-Hire Plot

SAN FRANCISCO – A ruthless attorney has been sentenced to 10 years in prison for orchestrating a chilling murder-for-hire plot.

Allen Gessen, 49, of Massachusetts, was found guilty by a jury of arranging to pay an undercover FBI agent to take out his ex-partner, the mother of his young children, announced United States Attorney Ismail J. Ramsey and Federal Bureau of Investigation Special Agent in Charge Robert K. Tripp.

According to the DOJ, Gessen was convicted of murder-for-hire after a one-week trial before U.S. District Judge Jacqueline Scott Corley. The evidence presented at trial established that Gessen, a New York-licensed attorney, met with the undercover FBI agent on two occasions in 2022, first in Boca Raton, Florida, and then in New York City.

During these meetings and through encrypted electronic messages, Gessen initiated plans to commit two different crimes, initially seeking to bribe an immigration official to deport his ex-partner, but later escalating to hiring someone to murder her. The evidence showed that Gessen deemed murder a ‘cheaper way to get rid of her’ and a more permanent solution.

Gessen wired a total of $23,000 to an FBI undercover bank account in San Francisco to carry out the murder, and also provided a target package containing details about his ex-partner’s whereabouts, schedule, and lifestyle habits.

In addition to the 10-year prison term, Judge Corley ordered Gessen to serve three years of supervised release to begin after his prison term.

The case is being prosecuted by the Corporate and Securities Fraud Section of the U.S. Attorney’s Office, with the FBI leading the investigation.

Gessen’s conviction and sentencing serve as a stark reminder of the devastating consequences of orchestrating violent crimes, and the unwavering commitment of law enforcement to bring perpetrators to justice.