U.S. Attorney's Office Secures Sentencing for Murder-for-Hire Plot

ALBUQUERQUE – A Las Cruces man was sentenced to the statutory maximum of 10 years in federal prison for trying to hire an undercover ATF agent to murder his girlfriend's mother for $200.

There is no parole in the federal system.

According to court records, between April 10, 2022, and continuing through May 11, 2022, Leif Hayman repeatedly solicited a hitman to murder his girlfriend's mother through the website "rentahitman.com".

Hayman submitted three service requests on the website, providing his own identifying information as well as details about the intended victim, including her physical address and photographs. In his first request on April 10, Hayman stated he wanted to "hurt" the victim, writing "I want her gone now, too much that I don't like about her she's controlling my wife." He submitted additional requests on April 17 and April 20 under different aliases, expressing his desire to have the victim killed. As part of those requests, Hayman wrote “Kill that bitch” and “I fucking hate her so much I want her gone now.”

Between April 20 and May 2, Hayman sent numerous follow-up emails to the website expressing impatience with the process. On April 28, he wrote: "You people are fake if u were real someone who have contact me already I can't wait anymore I'm doing it my fucking self thank you for nothing fake people."

The website's owner initially forwarded Hayman's solicitations to local police but did not receive a timely response, resulting in the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives’ involvement. On May 5, an undercover ATF agent contacted Hayman. During a 16-minute recorded conversation, Hayman stated he wanted the victim "gone off the Earth" and “that fucking bitch deserves to die.” When Hayman was informed that the fastest and cleanest way to carry out the murder would be with a gun, Hayman stated “yes, let’s go for it!”  However, after learning that he would have to pay for the gun, Hayman explored other options stating “I have knives . . . I have a rock you can smash her head with multiple times.” 

On May 9, Hayman had another call with the agent, indicating his caretaker would also need to be harmed for him to leave home. Hayman agreed to pay approximately $200 for the murder.

On May 11, the undercover agent went to Hayman's residence, ostensibly to carry out the plan. Hayman emerged with his caretaker, stating "this is part of the deal” in reference to having his caretaker killed.  A scuffle ensued between Hayman and the caretaker, causing the agent to abort the operation.

Upon his release from prison, Hayman will be subject to three years of supervised release.

U.S. Attorney Alexander M.M. Uballez and Brendan Iber, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, made the announcement today.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated this case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Maria Y. Armijo and Ry Ellison are prosecuting the case.

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