Westlake Oregon Woman Sentenced in Murder-for-Hire of Ex-Husband

EUGENE, Ore. – On Wednesday, May 3, 2017, United States District Court Judge Ann Aiken sentenced Pamela Jean Gygi, 58, of Westlake, Oregon to ten years in prison followed by three years of supervised release. Gygi pleaded guilty on January 23, 2017 to using interstate commerce facilities in the commission of a murder-for-hire and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence.

According to court documents, in May 2015, Gygi attempted to end a property dispute with her divorced husband and collect on his $150,000 life insurance policy by hiring a hitman to murder him. Instead of carrying out the crime, the hitman traveled across state lines to warn the ex-husband of the plot. The ex-husband, in turn, notified police.

Meanwhile, Gygi continued plotting the murder and gathering supplies. On July 10, 2015, she drove to Springfield, Oregon with a pistol, ammunition, cash and a vehicle to be used by the hitman to travel to the ex-husband’s home. An FBI video recording shows Gygi meeting the hitman in a mall parking lot to deliver the supplies and vehicle.

Gygi instructed the hitman to make the murder look as though it were the result of a home invasion robbery and, as part of the deal, told him to steal her ex-husband’s rifle. Gygi left the meeting after confirming that she would secure an alibi witness. She was then stopped by a Springfield police officer and arrested by the FBI.

Judge Aiken commended the FBI and the United States Attorney’s Office for the investigation and prosecution, and stated that Gygi’s offenses required a severe sentence to deter those involved in domestic disputes from resorting to violence.

The case was prosecuted by Frank R. Papagni, Jr., Assistant United States Attorney for the District of Oregon, and investigated by the FBI and the Springfield, Oregon, and Saratoga Springs, Utah Police Departments.