An Arizona father will spend at least 8 years behind bars after pleading guilty to a murder-for-hire scheme, admitting that he tried to have his ex-wife killed because he believed that she would not raise their children on "the right path."
Ali Joseph, 44, finalized his divorce from his wife and the mother of his daughters in February 2021. More than a year later, in May 2022, he spoke with an individual he believed could put him in contact with a hit man because he did not want to share custody with his former spouse.
"Joseph revealed that he was unwilling to share custody of his children with the victim because he believed her to be an 'apostate' who would not raise his children on 'the right path,'" the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Arizona wrote in a statement.
In actuality, the individual Joseph spoke with a confidential human source for the FBI. The source subsequently put Joseph in contact with an undercover FBI employee, posing as a hit man.
A Maricopa County Superior Court judge issued a ruling that gave Joseph and his ex joint custody of their children, just one day before he contacted the man he believed to be a hit man and said he'd made a decision, the Arizona Republic reported.
"Joseph offered to pay the 'hitman' $3,000 to disguise himself as a homeless person who would attempt to rob and violently attack the victim as she left her workplace," the U.S. Attorney's Office said. He gave the fake hit man a $1000 advance, photographs of his ex-wife and documents with identifying information, according to court records.
"He wanted the 'hitman' to stab the victim in the neck to ensure she would not survive the attack, and asked the [source] to notify him when the murder was completed by sending him a funny photo or short video," the U.S. Attorney's office said.
Joseph pleaded guilty to use of interstate commerce facilities in the commission of murder for hire, in December 2023. United States District Judge Diane J. Humetewa sentenced Joseph to 102 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release.
