A Lorain man has been convicted along with a New Jersey inmate of conspiring to murder an unidentified woman.
Eduardo Rios Velasquez and Fort Dix Federal Correctional Institution inmate Angel Cordero, both 37, were found guilty in federal court Tuesday. Authorities say Velasquez had been hired by Cordero to kill a woman known only as "T.G." The two suspects had previously been incarcerated together.
The plot was uncovered, however, after Velasquez reached out to another inmate via a smuggled-in cell phone, asking for "T.G.'s" address. Arrests were made in August of last year, and the woman was not harmed.
In addition, both men were also convicted of conspiracy to distribute cocaine. Another person apparently supplied Velasquez with large amounts of the drug, with Cordero serving as the broker. Officials say they intercepted a kilogram of cocaine last July that was intended for Velasquez.
“The FBI is pleased with the jury's verdict. Velasquez will spend significant time behind bars for his ruthless willingness to kill someone for money,” FBI Special Agent in Charge Stephen D. Anthony said. “The FBI Cleveland Division commends the collaboration between the law enforcement agencies involved in disrupting and prosecuting this murder for hire.”
Both Velasquez and Cordero are scheduled to be sentenced on Sept. 18.
