Federal Charges for International Murder for Hire Plots- 18 U.S.C. Section 1958
Recently, Asif Merchant was arrested and charged in New York federal court for allegedly participating in a conspiracy to murder a political figure on American soil. Eastern District of New York | Pakistani National with Ties to Iran Charged in Connection with Foiled Plot to Assassinate a Politician or U.S. Government Officials | United States Department of JusticeHe is being charged with violating federal code 18 U.S.C. Section 1958, which states:
Whoever travels in or causes another (including the intended victim) to travel in interstate or foreign commerce, or uses or causes another (including the intended victim) to use the mail or any facility of interstate or foreign commerce, with intent that a murder be committed in violation of the laws of any State or the United States as consideration for the receipt of, or as consideration for a promise or agreement to pay, anything of pecuniary value, or who conspires to do so, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned for not more than ten years, or both; and if personal injury results, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned for not more than twenty years, or both; and if death results, shall be punished by death or life imprisonment, or shall be fined not more than $250,000, or both.
Obviously, these charges are very serious. In cases involving an actual murder, the death penalty can be imposed.
Matthew Galluzzo, an experienced criminal defense attorney, has previously represented a person accused of conspiring to murder an ambassador on American soil, by negotiating a very short prison sentence for the client who was otherwise facing potentially decades in prison. USA v. Zaw (7:21-cr-00737), New York Southern District Court (pacermonitor.com). He has also successfully defended numerous individuals accused of homicides, in both state and federal court.
If you or a loved one have been arrested and accused of participating in an international murder for hire scheme, you should strongly consider contacting Matthew Galluzzo. A former Manhattan prosecutor, Matthew Galluzzo has over twenty years of experience in criminal law, and worked so effectively and tirelessly on behalf of French clients that the French government recently knighted him.