Everett Man Arrested In Murder-For-Hire Plot
EVERETT (CBS) - An Everett man is accused of trying to hire himself out as a hit man, but investigators say he made his pitch to an undercover FBI agent.
Federal authorities raided two apartments within a few miles Friday morning. FBI agents were in and out of a triple decker on Lexington Street in Everett, taking pictures and evidence, at the home of convicted criminal Joseph Burke.
The 51-year-old, whose crimes date back to the late 80s, is charged federally with murder for hire - accused of trying to be a hitman.
In recorded conversations with an undercover agent back in March, Burke said he needed money, and allegedly asked the agent if he knew of anyone needing a hitman and in court paperwork, his exact intentions are clarified.
Burke allegedly said, "…just killing them. So you might know somebody who wants to get rid of a husband... that I'll do all day long. For a price, all day long. Not a problem."
The undercover agent identified a target in Manhattan, and over the course of several months, federal authorities allege Burke conspired to kill the man in his New York office. The would-be crime was to take place in a week, but Burke wanted to be in place this weekend and allegedly had the weapons and disguises in place. The purported payout was close to $100K.
If Burke is convicted, he faces up to 10 years in federal prison.