Massachusetts Man Charged in Murder-For-Hire

A Massachusetts man has been charged with interstate travel and use of facilities of interstate commerce in the commission for murder for hire, according to the Department of Justice.

Joseph Burke, of Everett, was arrested Friday morning in Everett on murder-for-hire charges. He provided an address of 43 Lexington Street, Everett, to authorities.

The murder-for-hire of a purported New York business man was scheduled for October 17, 2015, according to the affadavit.

Authorities have probable cause to believe that Burke traveled interstate and used facilities of interstate commerce in the commission of murder-for-hire, according to the affadavit. Federal authorities, assisted by local and state authorities, executed a seach on Friday.

One of the undercover agents met with Burke on the numerous occasions, according to the federal affadavit, to discuss a variety of potential business ventures. During the course of those meetings, Burke offered to engage in several illegal activities, including marijuana trafficking, robberies, and the commission of violent acts, including murder, according to the federal agent.

On a Sept. 9 meeting with an undercover agent, Burke discussed the possibility of murder-for-hire. The discussion was recorded, and included in the affadavit:

““BURKE described how he would kill the Target and said he had “no qualms with doing it.” BURKE said, “I’m gonna f*****g shoot him in the head. . . . F*****g gonna hit him right in the f*****g derby. Three in the derby and three in his chest. Don’t worry, he aint getting up.” BURKE also stated that “this is serious, serious business. This is a lifetime in jail, you know what I mean?””

Fees of up to $100,000 were discussed for the alleged murder-for-hire.

Burke has been convicted, in Federal District Court, District of Massachusetts, in 1988, of robbery charges and sentenced to 63 months in prison; and in 1993 of possession of cocaine with intent to distribute and sentenced to 120 months in prison. He is currently on probation, supervised by the Probation and Pretrial Services Office.

The FBI has information that Burke’s associate, the girlfriend, is likely assisting him in transporting firearms and is likely jointly possessing firearms with Burke, which he allegedly intended to use for the murder-for-hire. The girlfriend has been convicted of several crimes, including crimes punishable by more than one year in prison.

Burke is scheduled to appear in U.S. District Court in Worcester Friday afternoon for an initial appearance. He will appear in Worcester because that is where the Magistrate is sitting today.