NEWS RELEASE
UNITED STATES ATTORNEY'S OFFICE
WESTERN DISTRICT OF VIRGINIA
Julia C. Dudley United States Attorney Brian McGinn Public Affairs Specialist |
BB&T Building 310 1st Street, S.W., Room 906 Roanoke, Virginia 24011 (540) 857-2974 FAX (540) 857-2179 |
June 19, 2009
Maryland Man Indicted, Charged With Murder For Hire, Other Charges
James Richard Hackley, IV Faces Between 10 to 120 Years in Prison
United States Attorney Julia C. Dudley and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Special Agent in Charge Edgar A. Domenech announced today that James Richard Hackley, IV, a.ka. “J.R.”, a.k.a. “Baby J”, age 37, of Fort Washington, Maryland, was indicted yesterday by a federal Grand Jury sitting in Harrisonburg on drug, obstruction of justice and murder for hire charges.
The grand jury charged Hackley in a superseding indictment with one count of conspiracy to distribute cocaine, six counts of distributing cocaine, one count of murder for hire, one count of solicitation to commit murder for hire, one count of obstruction of justice and one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm. If convicted on all counts, the maximum penalty faced by the defendant is 120 years imprisonment.
The charges stem from an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Northwest Virginia Regional Drug Task Force that alleges Hackley conspired with others to distribute, and on several occasions did distribute, more than five grams of crack cocaine and was a convicted felon in possession of a weapon.
In addition to the drug charges, the grand jury charged Hackley with one count of murder for hire, one count of solicitation to commit murder for hire and one count of obstruction of justice.
The indictment alleges that between March 2009 and April 21, 2009, the defendant used the mail and other forms of interstate commerce to facilitate the murder of “Witness A” by another individual or individuals. The purpose of these mailings, according to the indictment, was to verify information concerning the potential victim’s location as well as to coordinate payment for committing the murder. The indictment alleges that Hackley agreed to give the alleged hit-man a motorcycle in exchange for him murdering “Witness A”.
The indictment further claims Hackley took these actions to prevent “Witness A” from testifying against him on the indicted drug charges.
The investigation of the case was conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Northwest Virginia Regional Drug Task Force, with assistance from the Warren County Sheriff’s Office and the Front Royal Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Ronald Huber is prosecuting the case for the United States.
A Grand Jury indictment is only a charge and not evidence of guilt. The defendant is entitled to a fair trial with the burden on the government to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.