‘He belongs behind bars’: Man tried to hire hitman to kill ex-wife, her new boyfriend

BOSTON (Gray News/TMX) - A Boston man was sentenced to nearly eight years in prison on Thursday for trying to hire a hitman to kill his ex-wife and her boyfriend.

According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Massachusetts, Mohammed Chowdhury, 47, was sentenced to 92 months in prison and three years of supervised release after pleading guilty to two counts of use of interstate commerce facilities in the commission of murder-for-hire.

Law enforcement said they received a tip in November 2022 that Chowdhury was soliciting assistance in having his ex-wife murdered. The tipster told law enforcement that Chowdhury had paid someone to carry out the murder, but they took the money without following through.

The tipster said Chowdhury told them he needed the murder done as soon as possible, and would rob a store if necessary to gather the funds to pay for it.

After Chowdhury’s phone number was provided to law enforcement, an undercover agent posed as a contract killer to communicate with him.

In December 2022 and January 2023, Chowdhury met with undercover agents posing as the hitman and their associates.

Chowdhury claimed his ex-wife left him for her new boyfriend, and would not let him see his children.

The 47-year-old also described his frustration with his ex-wife’s westernization and independent thinking; and expressed that he wanted the undercover agents to rob and beat his ex-wife and her boyfriend so that he would not be a suspect, the U.S. Attorney’s Office said.

Authorities said Chowdhury provided the agents with photos of his ex-wife and her boyfriend, along with their home addresses, work addresses and work schedules.

Chowdhury agreed to pay $4,000 per murder, with $500 upfront, according to authorities.

On Jan. 17, 2023, Chowdhury met with an undercover agent to provide the $500 deposit and was immediately taken into federal custody.

“Mr. Chowdhury literally thought he could get away with murder,” acting U.S. Attorney Joshua S. Levy said in a statement. “Mr. Chowdhury’s disturbing conduct — in combination with the misogyny and dehumanization he expressed in trying to carry out this plot — speak volumes about how dangerous he is.”

Authorities said he was previously charged in 2019 with violating an abuse prevention order that barred him from abusing, contacting, or coming within a certain distance of his ex-wife.

“Anyone willing to hire a hitman to kill a once beloved family member and her new boyfriend is clearly a danger to the community,” said Jodi Cohen, special agent in charge of the FBI Boston Division. “Given his complete lack of respect for human life, there’s no question he belongs behind bars, and this conviction ensures that will happen.”