Prisoner charged in murder for hire plot against ADA

US Attorney Carmen Ortiz recently charged Pernell Powell with hiring an inmate to murder a Worcester County ADA. According to a release from Ms. Ortiz's office, Mr. Powell allegedly gave $2000 as a deposit to a fellow inmate to murder an assistant district attorney. Mr. Powell agreed to provide more money after the murder was committed. Mr. Powell was being held at the Worcester County House of correction after being charged with a fifth offense OUI. Powell a 73-year-old man from Roxbury was allegedly upset that the prosecutor was recommending a 4 to 6 year prison term for his subsequent operating under the influence. Now Mr. Powell faces up to 10 years in the federal prison followed by three years of supervised release and a $250,000 fine.
It truly surprises me that the penalty for trying to hire somebody to kill a prosecutor is merely four years longer than the recommended prison sentence for drunk driving.