Florida man accused of hiring hitman to kill witnesses

FLORIDA — A Pinellas County man has been indicted for allegedly hiring a hitman to kill witnesses, the United States Attorney for the Middle District of Florida has announced.

United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announced the return of an indictment charging Alexander Leszczynski, 24, of North Redington Beach, with one count of murder-for-hire and one count of obstruction of justice.

If convicted, Leszczynski faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison on each count. The indictment also notifies Leszczynski that the United States intends to forfeit any facilitating property or assets that are alleged to be traceable to proceeds of the offense, the U.S. Attorney’s Office (USAO) said in its statement.

According to the indictment, in approximately August and September 2022, Leszczynski, while using a facility of interstate or foreign commerce, promised to pay an individual to kill two people, identified as Victim 1 and Victim Two.

The indictment also alleges that, during that same time period, Leszczynski corruptly endeavored to influence, obstruct, and impede the due administration of justice in a judicial proceeding pending before United States District Court: namely, the trial of the criminal case of United States of America v. Alexander Leszczynski, Case Number 8:22-cr-155-MSS-SPF, in the Tampa Division of the Middle District of Florida.

An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Shauna S. Hale.