WORCESTER, Mass. – A 75-year-old Boston man has been convicted of trying to have a prosecutor killed over a drunken driving sentence.

The Worcester Telegram & Gazette reports (http://bit.ly/18Pv2xQ) Pernell Powell was found guilty Friday in federal court of using interstate commerce facilities in the commission of a murder-for-hire.

Prosecutors said Powell offered his cellmate about $4,000 in 2011 to kill Worcester County prosecutor Daniel Bennett, who was recommending Powell get up to 5 years in a drunken driving case. The cellmate alerted the FBI and cooperated in the investigation.

Powell’s defense attorney said his client was manipulated.

Powell was sentenced last year to three to four years in the drunken driving case, which was handled by an outside prosecutor.

He faces up to 10 years in the federal case when he is sentenced Dec. 6.

 


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