2 men from Mass. indicted in alleged murder-for-hire plot

Two Massachusetts men face charges of conspiracy to commit murder for hire in what prosecutors say was a plot against a witness in a federal drug case.

Elijah Melton, 26, of Middleborough, and Kareem Pires, 25, of Wareham, are each charged with one count of conspiracy to commit murder for hire, according to the Acting U.S. Attorney’s Office in Massachusetts , Joshua S. Levy. Pires appeared in court Tuesday, while Melton is in federal custody and is expected to appear in court at a later date, prosecutors said.

Levy’s office said the alleged plot stems from Melton’s December 2023 arrest, when he was indicted on federal drug charges. He was released on conditions, but was arrested in February for allegedly violating those bail conditions. He has since been in police custody.

Prosecutors say a cooperating witness told authorities that Melton solicited him to murder a person Melton believed to be a witness in his federal drug case, allegedly telling the witness his gang had placed a “bounty” on that person.

“Melton allegedly offered to arrange for a younger family member to give $75,000 to a family member of the cooperating witness,” Levy’s office said. “The cooperating witness informed federal authorities that he then refused the money.”

Melton also allegedly asked the witness to murder two other people who were “arguing” with his crew, providing identifying information about the people he wanted to kill.

“Melton also allegedly told the cooperating witness that he wanted two federal prosecutors murdered, provided him with certain information about the prosecutors, and indicated that he would provide the money to personally assassinate the prosecutors,” Levy’s office said .

Prosecutors say Melton told the witness that Pires, who was not in custody, would help identify people he wanted to kill. In April, authorities said the cooperating witness met with Pires, who allegedly agreed to piece together the information on the federal witness and his rivals.

A charge of conspiracy to commit murder for hire can carry a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, according to Levy’s office.