PINELLAS COUNTY, Fla. – A Pinellas County man pleaded guilty on Tuesday to an indictment charging him with murder-for-hire and obstruction of justice.
Alexander Leszczynski, 24, North Redington Beach, faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison on each count. A sentencing date has not yet been set.
According to court documents, on or about October 7, 2020, Leszczynski filed with the Clerk of Court for Pinellas County a warranty deed purporting to transfer a parcel of property in Redington Shores, Florida from its rightful owners (Victim 1 and Victim 2) to Aura, Inc., a fictitious corporate entity that Leszczynski controlled.
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In April 2022, a grand jury in the Middle District of Florida charged Leszczynski with several counts of fraud, including fraud related to the property owned by Victim 1 and Victim 2, in United States v. Alexander Leszczynski, 8:22-cr-155-MSS-SPF.
He was arraigned on May 17, 2022, and ordered detained. The fraud case was eventually set for the October trial calendar with United States District Judge Mary S. Scriven. Both Victim 1 and Victim 2 were complainants against Leszczynski and could be called as witnesses against him in his fraud trial.
In August 2022, the FBI became aware that while incarcerated at the Pinellas County Jail, Leszczynski sought out a hitman to kill Victim 1 and Victim 2.
Leszczynski reported to a confidential informant that he had $45,000 hidden at his residence available to pay someone to kill the victims. Leszczynski relayed to the confidential informant that his pending criminal case (fraud) would have to be dropped if the victims were dead.
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The confidential informant agreed to put Leszczynski in contact with the purported hitman, an undercover agent.
On September 8 and 9, 2022, Leszczynski had calls with the undercover agent.
Among other details, Leszczynski shared Victim 1 and Victim 2’s name, address, physical descriptions, approximate ages, and provided additional details allowing the undercover agent to find photographs of Victim 1 and Victim 2 online.
Leszczynski also negotiated price, settled on paying $30,000, and repeatedly ensured the undercover agent that he wanted Victim 1 and Victim 2 dead.
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Shauna S. Hale and Samantha J. Newman.
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