Man Indicted In Murder For Hire Scheme Arrested In Boston

SAN FRANCISCO – Allen Gessen was arrested in Boston after a San Francisco federal grand jury indicted him for murder for hire, announced United States Attorney Stephanie M. Hinds and Federal Bureau of Investigation Special Agent in Charge Sean Ragan. 

The indictment, filed July 26, 2022, against Gessen, 47, of Massachusetts, charges that from June 2 to July 26, 2022, he engaged in a murder for hire scheme targeting a person identified only as “P.C.” in the indictment.  The indictment alleges the consideration offered for the murder was $50,000.  The indictment further alleges that Gessen paid a gold coin as a down payment in the murder scheme on June 22, 2022, and the indictment seeks to forfeit that gold coin as well as $22,950. 

Gessen made his initial federal court appearance July 28, 2022, in United States District Court in Boston.  

The indictment charges one count of murder for hire in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1958.  The maximum statutory penalty for the charge is 10 years of imprisonment and a $250,000 fine.  However, any sentence following a conviction would be imposed by a court only after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and the federal statute governing the imposition of a sentence, 18 U.S.C. § 3553.

The charges contained in the indictment are only allegations.  As in any criminal case, the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.  

The case is being prosecuted by the Corporate and Securities Fraud Section of the U.S. Attorney’s Office.  The case is being investigated by the FBI.