Brandon Cory Lecroy, Murder for Hire with Hate Crime Enhancement, South Carolina 2018
Columbia, South Carolina - In a shocking display of racial hatred, a Greenwood man has been sentenced to 10 years in federal prison for orchestrating a murder-for-hire plot against his African American neighbor.
Brandon Cory Lecroy, 26, was sentenced to the statutory maximum for the offense by United States District Judge Bruce Howe Hendricks of Charleston. Lecroy will also serve three years of court-ordered supervision after his release from prison, with no parole in the federal system.
The evidence against Lecroy was damning. According to court documents, the Federal Bureau of Investigation received information that Lecroy had contacted a white supremacist organization to seek assistance with the murder of his neighbor.
Agents were able to direct Lecroy to an undercover agent, who posed as a hitman to determine if Lecroy was serious about causing harm to his neighbor. On March 20, 2018, via a recorded telephone conversation, Lecroy made an arrangement with the undercover agent to pay for the murder of his neighbor, offering $500 for the deed.
Lecroy's hatred went beyond just murder. During the phone call, he requested that a 'flaming cross' be placed in the front yard of his neighbor's house and that the neighbor be hung from a tree. Lecroy also made statements about taking over the neighbor's property once the murder was accomplished.
On April 9, 2018, Lecroy met with the undercover agent in Greenwood, where he pointed out the neighbor's residence and discussed future targets he wanted killed or maimed. Lecroy provided the agent with a $100 cash down payment before law enforcement officers descended on the scene and arrested him without incident.
The case was investigated by agents with the Federal Bureau of Investigation, with Assistant United States Attorney Bill Watkins of the Greenville office prosecuting the case.
The 10-year sentence is a testament to the gravity of Lecroy's crimes. Hate crimes will not be tolerated in our society, and those who perpetrate them will face severe consequences.
Key Facts
- State: South Carolina
- Category: Violent Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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