Delaware Man Sentenced to 118 Months in Federal Prison for His Murder-For-Hire Plot

WILMINGTON, Del. – David C. Weiss, U.S. Attorney for the District of Delaware announced today that a Wilmington man was sentenced yesterday to 118 months in federal prison for devising a plot to engage in interstate murder-for-hire. Chief U.S. District Judge Colm F. Connolly pronounced the sentence.

According to court documents, Javier A. Rodriguez, age 47, hired a hitman to murder his ex-wife.  Over the course of the investigation, Rodriguez held multiple meetings about the murder plot, which were audio and video recorded by the FBI.  During those meetings, Rodriguez explained exactly how he wanted his ex-wife murdered.   Rodriguez made a down payment of $5,000 to another individual to pay for the hitman and agreed to pay an additional $5,000 once the murder was completed.  The FBI arrested Rodriguez before anyone was injured.  As a result, the statutory maximum term of imprisonment for the offense was ten years in federal prison.

“Human life is sacred,” stated U.S. Attorney Weiss. “Law enforcement thwarted Mr. Rodriguez’ craven assassination attempt, and my office worked to bring him to justice. The Court’s sentence reflects the severity of Mr. Rodriguez’s criminal conduct.”   

"The FBI is committed to investigating violent crimes such as this," said Acting Special Agent in Charge R. Joseph Rothrock of the FBI'S Baltimore Field Office. "The thwarted murder-for-hire plot in this case affirms the importance of collaboration between law enforcement agencies. Had it not been for their combined efforts, the consequences could have been tragic. The FBI remains steadfast in our goal of making Delaware's streets safer for everyone."

The case was investigated by the FBI's Delaware Violent Crime and Safe Streets Task Force with significant assistance from the Wilmington Police Department, Delaware Probation and Parole, and the Delaware State Police. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexander Ibrahim prosecuted the case.

A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Delaware.  Related court documents and information is located on the website of the District Court for the District of Delaware or on PACER by searching for Case No. 22-CR-45-CFC.