Christopher Yates, Murder-for-Hire, Illinois 2026

Chicago Man Convicted of Murder-for-Hire Plot

CHICAGO - In a shocking turn of events, a Chicago man has been convicted of plotting to kill two potential witnesses in his cousin's murder trial.

According to federal authorities, CHRISTOPHER YATES, 41, sought the killings of two individuals he believed would testify against his cousin, who was set to go to trial in Cook County for allegedly fatally shooting a woman in 2020.

In the summer of 2024, Yates recruited two individuals to carry out the killings of the witnesses and provided them with a handgun and ammunition. He offered them $250 in cash and said he could offer more money later as payment for the killings.

'I want them both off the board. Both of them got to [expletive] go,' Yates told them, according to prosecutors.

Yates was arrested on July 31, 2024, before the killings could be carried out. He has remained detained in federal custody since then.

After a week-long trial in U.S. District Court in Chicago, the jury convicted Yates on June 29, 2026, of two counts of murder-for-hire and one count of unlawful transfer of a firearm and ammunition.

The unlawful transfer charge is punishable by up to 15 years in federal prison, while each murder-for-hire count is punishable by up to ten years. U.S. District Judge Steven C. Seeger set sentencing for Oct. 28, 2026.

The conviction was announced by Andrew S. Boutros, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, and Matthew Scarpino, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago office of Homeland Security Investigations.

Substantial assistance was provided by the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office and the U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kirsten Moran and Megan Donohue.

Mandatory Facts:

1. Defendant/respondent REAL full name or legal entity name: CHRISTOPHER YATES

2. Exact criminal charges: Two counts of murder-for-hire and one count of unlawful transfer of a firearm and ammunition

3. City and state: Chicago, Illinois

4. EXACT DATE with month/day/year: June 29, 2026 (conviction date)

5. Sentence or outcome: Sentencing set for Oct. 28, 2026

6. Dollar amounts where applicable: $250 in cash offered to the individuals

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndil/pr/chicago-man-convicted-plotting-kill-two-witnesses-cousins-murder-trial