A 43-year-old Florida man made his first appearance in Fort Lauderdale federal magistrate court on Thursday to face a charge that he used the U.S. mail system to solicit, plan, and pay for the murder of his former girlfriend’s new love interest.
According to the criminal complaint affidavit, Ryan Hadeed’s first piece of murder correspondence was his request to the intended hitman that said: “I need someone eliminated. I’ve been told you can arrange that. $10,000 All in cash and upfront. Person located in Tampa.”
It is alleged that in that first letter, mailed in September, and in two subsequent mailings, Hadeed instructed the intended hitman to signal acceptance of the offer by posting marked sheets of paper on his store-front window, among other things.
According to the complaint affidavit, on November 10, the intended hitman received a final mailing from Hadeed that included a description and pictures of the man that Hadeed wanted killed, the victim’s home address, and likely travel schedule, as well as a deadline for the murder.
Also inside the envelope was $10,000 cash, says the affidavit. It is alleged that Hadeed left the country on a one-way ticket the same day the hitman received the cash and pictures of the intended victim.
During a secondary customs inspection of Hadeed when he returned from his international trip, additional evidence of the crime was uncovered, according to the affidavit. Pursuant to a court-issued warrant, law enforcement officers arrested Hadeed on December 22.
The intended victim, who remains alive, is romantically involved with Hadeed’s former girlfriend, says the criminal complaint affidavit.
Hadeed is charged with one count of using interstate commerce facilities – the U.S. mail system – in the commission of murder for hire. If convicted, Hadeed faces up to 10 years in federal prison and a $250,000 fine.
A pretrial detention hearing for Hadeed is scheduled for December 29, at 11:00 a.m., in federal magistrate court in Fort Lauderdale.
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