Makram Khashman, a wholesale produce retailer from South Florida, allegedly agreed to pay $5,000 to a “hitman” to kill a business rival. But the “hitman” was actually a federal agent and Khashman was arrested. (Brevard County Jail)
A produce wholesaler in South Florida allegedly hired a hitman to take out a business rival but the “killer” was actually a federal agent.
According to a criminal complaint, a confidential informant in February approached the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms to say Makram Khashman asked if they would kill a business rival. The informant allegedly told Khashman they wouldn’t do it but knew someone who would. Instead, the informant went to the feds.
The informant and an undercover ATF agent met with Khashman on Feb. 29 at a parking lot in the city of Plantation, documents stated. Khashman, wearing a polo shirt with a logo for Garden Fresh Produce LLC., got into the car with the two others. The agent said he heard Khashman “had a problem,” the compliant said. Khashman allegedly described it as a “big problem,” saying his intended target had “taken over a million dollars and a business worth three million dollars” from him. The business rival had put Khashman and his family “in the streets,” causing him to lose his house, according to the complaint.
Khashman told the agent he was willing to do “whatever had to be done” and “wanted something easy, like an injection,” investigators allege. When the undercover agent asked Khashman directly if he wanted the rival dead, he affirmed and said “I don’t give a f—,” the complaint said.
The agent told Khashman that the price was usually between $5,000 and $10,000. Khashman allegedly said he would offer $5,000 because he had already talked to people who would do it for that price. The agent told Khashman “that he would need a photograph, name, address, daily routine, and any additional information” about the target.
Khashman said the rival had a big warehouse in Parkland, and he would get the “hitman” the other information later.
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On March 19, the agent and Khashman met again, documents stated. Khashman allegedly got into the undercover agent’s car wearing the same “Garden Fresh Produce LLC” polo shirt. According to the complaint, Khashman gave him the target’s name and other information such as where he lived, the type of cars he drove and where he worked, authorities said. He also said the rival had “put on weight because he was a rich man,” according to complaint.
That’s when Khashman handed the “hitman” $2,500 in cash as a down payment, investigators allege. He also told the agent the target typically carried a large amount of cash on Saturdays to pay employees. The agent said he would contact Khashman once the “job was done,” the complaint said.
Authorities later arrested Khashman and took him to the Broward County Jail where he’s being held without bond. Florida business records show Khashman is the owner of Garden Fresh Wholesale Produce and Provisions LLC in Delray Beach.
