Makram Khashman, 58, approached a confidential informant with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives to organize a professional hit in exchange for money.
While the informant declined the offer, he told Khashman he "knew someone who may be able to help with his request, according to Local 10 News.
Unbeknownst to him, the someone he was referred to was an undercover federal agent.
Khashman assumed he would eventually pay the undercover agent a down payment of $2,500 to kill a business rival.
U.S. Marshals arrested Khashman on a federal murder-for-hire charge on Tuesday. He made his initial appearance in a Fort Lauderdale federal court before he was transported to the Broward County Jail.
Prosecutors allege Khashman arranged for a meeting with the agent on Feb. 29 in the area of 120 S. Pine Island Road in Plantation.
According to court documents, the accused got into the agent's vehicle and cut straight to the chase.
The undercover agent, who wore a wire, told Khashman that he had heard he "had a problem," and Khashman replied that "it was a big problem."
"(He) explained that he was in the streets with his family, that (the victim) had taken over a million dollars and a business worth three million dollars from (him)," an ATF agent wrote in the complaint.
Khashman told the perceived hitman to do "whatever had to be done." When asked to elaborate on his request, Khashman said he "wanted something easy, like an injection."
Court documents claim the agent told Khashman that "once he was committed there was no going back," to which he replied, "No problem."
The agent then said he would "bring guys down from New York and would need a few days to put eyes on the victim before completing the job," quoting him a price range of $5,000 and $10,000 for the killing.
"The UCA (undercover agent) agreed and informed KHASHMAN that he would need a photograph, name, address, daily routine, and any additional information related to Victim-1," the ATF agent wrote in the complaint.
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.
"KHASHMAN affirmed and emphasized that Victim-1 had a lot of money on Saturdays because the employees were paid in cash, but the UCA could keep the money."
The pair met once more at the same location on March 19 where Khashman gave the agent the victim's name and background information to help facilitate the job.
"KHASHMAN told the UCA that Victim-1 would have a large amount of cash on Saturday to pay employees and would be traveling from his residence directly to the business," the complaint states.
Khashman was arrested one week after the exchange of information.
It was also revealed in court documents that Khashman and a group of relatives are involved in an open case in Palm Beach County civil court.
Allegedly, Khashman and the co-defendants were involved in a company at one point and even served as a "mentor" and uncle to one of the plaintiffs. He claims he and the family members were given a 50% stake in the company, according to a counterclaim.
Khashman's nephew "essentially ousted" him from the company, the filing read.
Authorities don't specify in the federal criminal court documents whether Khashman was trying to have his nephew killed.
His hearing is scheduled for April 5.
