A jealous New York man tried to outsource a killing with a cell phone, cash, and a bottle of Wild Turkey—until federal agents shut it down before a single life was taken.
Story Snapshot
- Jeal Sutherland, 58, of Colonie, New York, was sentenced to 87 months in federal prison for a murder-for-hire plot targeting a romantic rival.
- Federal prosecutors said Sutherland used his phone to arrange the killing and planned to have the body disposed of at a Pennsylvania hog farm.
- The FBI used a cooperating informant posing as a hog farmer, recording conversations and arranging a sting that ended in Sutherland’s arrest.
- A threatening “goose carcass” incident tied to the plot raised the stakes and highlighted how quickly intimidation can escalate toward violence.
Federal sentence caps a bizarre murder-for-hire plot
U.S. District Judge Mae D’Agostino sentenced Jeal Sutherland of Colonie, near Albany, to 87 months in federal prison, a $15,000 fine, and three years of supervised release for orchestrating a murder-for-hire scheme. Investigators said the intended victim was the father of Sutherland’s then-partner’s child. The victim was unharmed, because the plan never reached the “execution” stage before the FBI intervened.
Prosecutors said Sutherland attempted to pay for the killing with a mix of cash, debt forgiveness, burner phones, and a bottle of Wild Turkey bourbon. The plan, as described in recorded conversations, involved luring the target after release from state prison using a fake job offer, then killing him and transporting the body for disposal. The most disturbing detail: investigators said Sutherland wanted the remains fed to hogs at a Pennsylvania farm.
How the FBI sting worked—and what investigators documented
Federal authorities said the investigation began in November 2024 after a confidential informant—described as a convicted murderer on lifetime parole—alerted law enforcement to the plot. The informant, working under FBI direction, posed as a Pennsylvania hog farmer who could handle disposal. Investigators documented multiple conversations from late 2024 into January 2025, building a timeline that prosecutors later used to support the interstate murder-for-hire charge.
Investigators said the case culminated in a January 26, 2025 meeting at a bowling alley in Latham, New York, where Sutherland allegedly provided cash and tools meant to finalize the scheme, including burner phones. He was arrested the next day and remained in custody through sentencing. Officials emphasized that the federal statute targets the use of interstate facilities—like phones—in arranging murder-for-hire, even when the intended victim is ultimately protected.
The intimidation step that should worry every family
Authorities also described an intimidation episode that moved the plot beyond talk. In late January 2025, prosecutors said Sutherland directed someone to place a Canada goose carcass on the doorstep of the intended victim’s mother, along with a threatening note. Even without physical harm, this kind of intimidation is the sort of pressure campaign that terrorizes families and neighborhoods. It also shows why early reporting and fast law enforcement response matter.
What this case says about modern crime and public safety priorities
Officials involved in the case framed the sentencing as a reminder that serious violence can be attempted with everyday technology. Prosecutors highlighted how a cell phone can serve as the “business line” for a murder plot, while the FBI stressed its role in interrupting violence before it happens. In practical terms, the case underscores the value of proactive policing that stops violent schemes early—before a grieving family is left with nothing but questions.
Public records and reporting included no indication of an appeal or additional developments after the February 10, 2026 sentencing. The known facts come largely from official law enforcement statements and contemporaneous local reporting, with limited independent expert commentary available in the research provided. Still, the basic takeaway is straightforward: the victim lived because investigators treated the threats as real, documented the steps, and acted before a jealous dispute turned into irreversible tragedy.
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Colonie man arrested in murder-for-hire plot involving hogs and bourbon
