Scranton Man Convicted of Murder-For-Hire Conspiracy and Related Crimes
A federal jury returned guilty verdicts against Gary Williams, a 45-year-old Scranton man, on all five charges related to his participation in a murder-for-hire scheme after a three-day trial in Senior U.S. District Court Judge A. Richard Caputo’s courtroom in Wilkes-Barre.
According to United States Attorney Peter J. Smith, the jury deliberated approximately three hours before finding Williams guilty of conspiracy to commit a murder-for-hire, carrying and possessing a firearm in relation to and in furtherance of a crime of violence, receiving a firearm and ammunition in interstate commerce with the intent to commit a felony offense, unlawfully possessing a firearm as a convicted felon, and attempting to tamper with a witness.
Williams was originally indicted by a federal grand jury in August 2012 as a result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Scranton Police Department. Williams was charged in a superseding indictment in April 2013.
The indictment alleged that Williams agreed to kill the ex-wife of a co-conspirator, and that the co-conspirator shipped a rifle and bullets from Cape Coral, Florida to Scranton for Williams to use to commit the murder. The indictment further alleged that the co-conspirator promised Williams money and a job for committing the murder.
Judge Caputo scheduled sentencing in the case for November 21, 2013. Williams faces a possible maximum sentence of life in prison, a fine of up to $1.25 million, a maximum term of supervised release of 19 years, and a $500 special assessment. Williams was ordered to be detained in prison pending sentencing.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Francis P. Sempa is prosecuting the case.
Key Facts
- State: Pennsylvania
- Category: Violent Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release ↗
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