A Boynton Beach man who thought he was hiring a hitman but instead unknowingly paid an undercover agent has pleaded guilty in federal court to murder-for-hire.
Makram Khashman, 58, was arrested earlier this year, after a confidential informant for the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms reported that Khashman was looking for a hitman.
The informant relayed the information to an undercover ATF agent, who posed as the hitman Khashman unknowingly gave $5,000 to in exchange for the murder of a person who he said stole over $1 million from him and a business from him, according to a criminal complaint filed in March.
Khashman admitted that he met with the undercover agent in late February and that he told the undercover agent he did not care how the intended target was killed, federal prosecutors said in a news release Wednesday.
During that first meeting in Plantation, Khashman said “he was in the streets with his family” because the person had stolen $1 million from him and a business worth $3 million, the plea agreement document said. He told the agent to do “whatever had to be done” and suggested the agent use an injection.
He met with the agent again in March in Plantation where he paid the first half of the promised $5,000 and provided the target’s name, car details and work schedule. He planned to pay the second half once Khashman had photos proving that the person was dead, the news release said.
The undercover agent emphasized multiple times to Khashman that the act could not be undone, according to the criminal complaint filed earlier this year. “No s—,” he replied, and said that he was willing to “do it (himself)” and told the agent to stop asking questions.
Khashman pleaded guilty Tuesday in federal court in Fort Lauderdale. He faces up to 10 years in prison, prosecutors said. His sentencing is scheduled for Jan. 7, 2025.