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Phoenix Man Sentenced to 8.5 Years for Murder-for-Hire Plot
Ali Joseph, a 44-year-old Phoenix resident, has been sentenced to 8.5 years in prison for his role in a brazen murder-for-hire plot. The sinister scheme unfolded in the midst of a contentious child-custody battle with the intended victim.
On Monday, United States District Judge Diane J. Humetewa handed down the 102-month sentence, followed by three years of supervised release, to Joseph. The defendant had pleaded guilty to one count of Use of Interstate Commerce Facilities in the Commission of Murder for Hire on December 12, 2023.
According to court documents, between May and August 2022, Joseph engaged in multiple in-person and electronic communications with a Confidential Human Source (CHS) for the FBI. During these conversations, Joseph revealed his deep-seated animosity towards the victim, whom he deemed an ‘apostate’ unfit to raise his children on the ‘right path.’ He repeatedly expressed his desire to have her murdered.
The CHS, acting as a conduit, introduced Joseph to an undercover FBI employee posing as a hitman. Joseph offered to pay the ‘hitman’ $3,000 to disguise himself as a homeless person who would attempt to rob and violently attack the victim as she left her workplace. A $1,000 down payment and a piece of paper containing photographs of the victim and her identifying information were provided by Joseph to facilitate the hit.
Joseph’s instructions to the ‘hitman’ were chilling. He wanted the attacker to stab the victim in the neck, ensuring she would not survive the assault. He even requested that the CHS notify him of the murder’s completion by sending a humorous photo or short video.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation conducted the investigation, while the United States Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, handled the prosecution. The case serves as a stark reminder of the dangers of domestic violence and the devastating consequences of allowing such hatred to escalate into deadly violence.
The case number is CR-22-01070-PHX-DJH, and the release number is 2024-056_Joseph. For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/. Follow them on X at @USAO_AZ for the latest news and updates.
Key Facts
- State: Arizona
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Violent Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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