Solicitation of Murder for Hire

Aggressive Defense Against Solicitation of Murder for Hire Charges—Illinois Solicitation of Murder for Hire Defense Lawyer

Solicitation of murder for hire is an extremely serious crime punishable under Illinois law. The implications of being charged with hiring or attempting to hire another individual to commit murder can have a devastating effect on nearly all aspects of your life. Being connected with a murder for hire scheme can permanently destroy your personal and professional reputation, even if you are merely accused of the crime. The charges can ruin the business you worked so hard to build or cause your employer to lose trust in you, thus cutting short any future career advances.

If you are convicted of this crime, your life will be even more permanently impacted. You could face a minimum of 15 years in prison under Illinois law and up to 30 years. Prosecutors and lawmakers take this crime very seriously, and the recent murder for hire scandals occurring in Illinois have only increased the government’s focus on fully punishing those convicted of this offense.

Anyone charged with the crime of solicitation of murder for hire must retain the assistance of an experienced criminal defense attorney as soon as possible in order to protect your legal rights and your future. At The Law Offices of David L. Freidberg, we understand the serious consequences of a solicitation of murder for hire charge or conviction. Our attorneys have decades of experience in the industry and will vigorously fight for your best legal outcome. When your future is at stake, you need the representation of the best and our reputation speaks volumes as to our abilities.

Defining The Crime of Solicitation of Murder for Hire

Under Illinois law, the crime of Solicitation of Murder for Hire is found in 720 ILCS 5/8-1.2. A person commits this offense, with the intent that a first degree murder be committed, when he or she procures another to commit murder pursuant to any agreement, contract, command, understanding, or request for money or something of value.

The crime is related to that of solicitation of murder, set out in 720 ILCS 5/8-1. Solicitation is defined as commanding, requesting, or encouraging another to commit an offense other than first degree murder. Solicitation of murder involves solicitation with the intent that the offense of first degree murder be committed.

Federal law criminalizes conduct similar to that of the Illinois’ statute. Under the Comprehensive Crime Control Act of 1984, whoever travels in or causes another to travel in interstate commerce, or uses or causes another to use the mail, with the intent that murder be committed, is in violation of the law. Those who conspire or agree to pay anything in exchange for murder that involves interstate commerce can similarly be punished under the statute. As such, those that solicit another to commit murder could face state or federal charges.

Punishment for Solicitation of Murder for Hire

Solicitation of murder for hire is a Class X felony under Illinois law. A person convicted of this crime shall be sentenced to a mandatory minimum term of 20 years in prison. The maximum sentence is 40 years in prison, unless the person convicted of solicitation of murder for hire solicited a person under the age of 17. In this case, the minimum punishment will be 25 years in prison and the maximum of 60 years in prison.

A conviction for a crime of this magnitude will have serious implications on your entire life. In addition to possibly decades spent in prison, those convicted of solicitation of murder for hire will have a permanent felony record that is visible to potential employers. Your personal relationships, employment, and future are at stake if you have been charged with solicitation of murder for hire.

The federal murder for hire crime is punishable by up to ten years in prison for any violation, twenty years if a personal injury results, and death or life imprisonment if death results. Substantial fines can additionally be imposed.

Defending Against Solicitation of Murder for Hire Charges

The charge of solicitation of murder for hire is a serious one, but with the right defense it can be overcome and a favorable outcome reached. At The Law Offices of David L. Freidberg, our attorneys work 24 hours a day, seven days a week to build a strong defense for our clients facing murder for hire and other like criminal charges. Often, murder for hire cases will depend upon primarily witness testimony. Witness testimony can be notoriously unreliable as it is subject to the witness’ own motives and biases. Our criminal defense attorneys will vigorously challenge all witness testimony and uncover evidence that demonstrates false or misleading pretenses.

Sometimes, these charges will stem from law enforcement officers posing as killers for hire in an effort to lure individuals into agreeing to have another person killed. In these cases, our attorneys will work to call into question how the officer’s obtained the incriminating evidence. If the evidence was obtained in violation of the defendant’s constitutional rights, we will file motions to suppress the wrongfully obtained evidence and have it thrown out of court. Without such evidence, the case will generally be dismissed as the prosecution cannot meet its tremendous burden of proof.

At The Law Offices of David L. Freidberg, our first goal is always to obtain a dismissal of your criminal charges. This is the best possible legal outcome as you will face no consequences and can move on with your life. Constitutional violations and an extreme lack of evidence can be grounds for dismissal of the charges. If this is not possible due to the circumstances surrounding the charges, we will then seek to have the charges reduced to a less severe offense. For clients who have no other option other than to plead guilty, which is rare, we will use our decades of experience in the criminal defense arena to negotiate the best possible plea deal. Our primary goal is always to seek a not guilty verdict at trial with our team of skilled trial attorneys.

The Law Offices of David L. Freidberg: The Experience You Need to Defend Against the Most Serious of Criminal Charges in Illinois

Solicitation of murder for hire is among the most serious of all Illinois criminal offenses. The Criminal Defense Attorneys at The Law Offices of David L. Freidberg have assisted clients in all manner of serious felony charges for over 25 years. We have the experience, knowledge, and skill to tackle even the most severe and complicated federal charges, including solicitation of murder for hire charges. Our dedicated criminal defense attorneys will fight vigorously to see that you achieve the best legal outcome. We are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to assist in your defense. To schedule your free consultation, call us today at (312) 560-7100 or toll free at (800) 803-1442. You may additionally contact us via email and we will respond as soon as possible.