TAMPA, Fla. — A Florida man, already facing federal fraud charges, is accused of hiring a “hitman” to kill two government witnesses who were preparing to testify against him, authorities said.
According to a news release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida, Alexander Dean Leszczynski, 24, of North Redington Beach, was charged with one count of murder-for-hire and one count of obstruction of justice.
According to the indictment, which was handed down Thursday, Leszczynski, allegedly promised to pay a person to kill two people, identified as Victim 1 and Victim. Leszczynski alleged activities occurred during late August and early September, the Tampa Bay Times reported.
Pinellas County Man Indicted for Hiring a Hitman to Kill Witnesses: Alexander Leszczynski of North Redington Beach has been charged with one count of murder-for-hire and one count of obstruction of justice. https://t.co/h3CRbqGLiF
— FBI Tampa (@FBITampa) October 28, 2022
Leszczynski had been originally indicted in May in multiple fraud schemes, WTSP-TV reported.
According to a news release, Leszczynski was charged with wire fraud, bank fraud and money laundering. He is facing a maximum sentence of 30 years in federal prison if he is convicted of those charges, according to the television station.
The news release about the latest indictment does not include other details about the investigation, according to the Times.
The indictment states that Leszczynski “corruptly endeavored to influence, obstruct, and impede the due administration of justice in a judicial proceeding pending” before U.S. District Court.
Each charge from the second indictment carries a prison term of up to 10 years.
Leszczynski was originally accused of using fictitious charitable entities to “engage in numerous frauds,” prosecutors said.
One fraud allegation included applying for and receiving two Payroll Protection Plan loans totaling approximately $195,910. Prosecutors also said that Leszczynsku was involved in a check-kiting scheme and tried to deposit $2.7 million in worthless checks into one of his business accounts.
The government ultimately seized $337,000 from an account Leszczynski controlled, prosecutors said. When he discovered that the money had been frozen, Leszczynski attempted to have it released by “producing a fabricated pardon purportedly signed by former President Donald Trump.”
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