A New Jersey political consultant pled guilty in federal court to conspiring to kill a long-time associate who had worked with him on numerous political campaigns.
New Jersey Political Consultant Pleads Guilty to Hiring Hitmen to Kill Associate
Sean Caddle of Hamburg, New Jersey, pled guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit murder for hire. U.S. District Judge John Vazquez, who presided over the plea hearing, granted Caddle a $1 million unsecured bond, placing him on home detention with electronic monitoring and travel restrictions pending his sentencing.
In April 2014, Caddle contacted a Connecticut resident to commit murder for Caddle in exchange for being paid thousands of dollars. This individual then recruited a longtime accomplice in Philadelphia to assist with the murder. The two hitmen traveled to the victim’s Jersey City apartment. After gaining entry to the apartment, the two men stabbed the victim to death and set fire to the apartment. After learning of the victim’s death, Caddle met with the first contact in a diner parking lot and provided the cash for the murder. The contact then split the proceeds with his accomplice.
Caddle is facing a maximum sentence of life imprisonment and a fine of up to $250,000. His sentencing is scheduled for June 7, 2022.
What Can a Person Be Charged with for a Murder-for-Hire Scheme?
Someone who initiates or becomes involved in a murder-for-hire scheme may be charged with a wide variety of crimes, including:
- Murder
- Conspiracy to commit murder
- Conspiracy to commit murder for hire
- Unlawful use of telecommunications facilities (when contracting hitmen via phone or over the internet)
Murder for hire schemes may result in state criminal charges, or offenses may be charged under federal law if the scheme takes place across state lines, including crossing state lines to hire hitmen, obtain materials, or to reach the intended victim or victims
How a Criminal Defense Attorney Can Help
If you have been charged with criminal offenses arising from a homicide conspiracy, you need skilled, aggressive legal representation to help protect your rights and interests. A criminal defense attorney can help you in your case by:
- Advising you following your arrest and through any law enforcement questioning or interrogations
- Thoroughly investigating your charges to recover all available evidence.
- Sitting down with you to ensure you understand your charges, legal rights and options, and the potential outcomes in your case.
- Identify possible factual and legal defenses that may be supported by the evidence.
- Challenging the prosecution’s evidence, including moving to exclude evidence that may have been obtained illegally by the police or in violation of your constitutional rights.
- Retaining expert witnesses to refute the state’s forensic or scientific evidence.
- Filing motions to challenge the sufficiency of the state’s evidence in hopes of having your charges reduced or outright dismissed.
- Where appropriate, engage in plea negotiations with the prosecutions to help you avoid the maximum penalties possible in a conviction.
- Advocating on your behalf at trial if you choose to defend yourself against your charges.
Contact an Experienced Hamilton Township Criminal Defense Lawyer About Your Homicide Charges in New Jersey
Were you arrested or charged with homicide in New Jersey? The consequences of a conviction could be severe, leaving you with a permanent criminal record and possibly even sending you to jail. That is why you need to speak with a qualified criminal defense attorney as soon as possible about your case. The attorneys at The Davis Law Firm, LLC have successfully represented clients charged with homicide in Trenton, Ewing, Lawrence, Princeton, and throughout New Jersey. Call (609) 498-7722 or fill out the online contact form to schedule a consultation with a member of our legal team. We have an office conveniently located at 2653 Nottingham Way, Hamilton Township, NJ 08619.
The articles on this blog are for informative purposes only and are no substitute for legal advice or an attorney-client relationship. If you are seeking legal advice, please contact our law firm directly.
