Topline: Federal authorities thwarted plot that included intimidation tactics, a dead goose, and undercover surveillance.
Published: May 20, 2025 9:00 am ET
Must Read
ALBANY, NY – A New York man pled guilty Monday to using an interstate commerce facility in a murder-for-hire scheme that targeted a Capital Region man, federal prosecutors announced.
The elaborate and disturbing plot, which unfolded between November 2024 and January 2025, involved threats, staged intimidation tactics, and a gruesome plan to dispose of a body at a Pennsylvania hog farm.
Jeal Sutherland, 57, of Colonie, was arrested on January 27 and has been in custody ever since, according to United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III and FBI Special Agent in Charge Craig L. Tremaroli.
Sutherland admitted in court to using his cell phone to arrange the murder of a man who shared a child with Sutherland’s then-girlfriend. In exchange for carrying out the killing, Sutherland agreed to forgive the debt of the individual he hired. He also coordinated with an undercover FBI agent—whom he believed to be a hog farmer—to use a remote farm where pigs would consume the victim’s body.
In a disturbing act of intimidation, Sutherland had another man place a dead Canada goose on the doorstep of the victim’s mother. A threatening note, written by Sutherland, was stuffed into the bird’s beak.
“The FBI will continue to work with our partners at the United States Attorney’s Office to aggressively pursue and hold accountable anyone looking to commit such egregious acts of violence in our communities,” said FBI Special Agent Tremaroli.
United States Attorney Sarcone added, “Jeal Sutherland hatched a vicious plot to kill a romantic rival and intimidate his victim’s family. When members of the FBI and my office learned of Sutherland’s plans, they acted quickly and did not rest until Sutherland was brought to justice.”
According to a criminal complaint obtained by Law&Crime, an informant who once worked for Sutherland as an “enforcer” exposed the murder-for-hire plan. The informant told authorities that Sutherland had previously asked him to set fire to a vehicle belonging to the mother of an incarcerated man—another romantic rival—because she was scheduled to testify at a custody hearing.
The informant claimed that Sutherland had more sinister intentions for the incarcerated man, who was due for release in January. Sutherland allegedly said he wanted the man dead and “gone,” intending to dispose of the body at the same Pennsylvania hog farm.
The informant began recording conversations with Sutherland. In one December exchange, the informant said, “I have a van I can rent for like $250 from a nun. We take him to a farm and let the hogs eat him.” Sutherland replied that his girlfriend had her own idea: she wanted the man “strapped to a chair so she can hit him with a baseball bat.” But he also admitted she would “fold like an accordion” if questioned.
Sutherland told the informant, “I don’t want to know anything about it,” but insisted on receiving proof of death.
As the plan progressed, the FBI tracked key moments, including Sutherland writing a check to the informant as partial payment. On January 26, a day before his arrest, Sutherland met with the informant and his then-girlfriend at a bowling alley. Before proceeding, the informant said he needed to be paid.
They left together for a relative’s home, where Sutherland handed over $1,450 in cash, an E-ZPass transponder, and a bottle of Wild Turkey bourbon for the undercover hog farmer. The funds included $1,000 for the farm, $250 for van rental, and $200 for gas, court records show.
Sutherland now faces up to 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine, and up to three years of supervised release. Sentencing is scheduled for September 22, 2025, before U.S. District Judge Mae A. D’Agostino.
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
Editor Picks
Latest Articles
Feds: Man Admits to Plot to Kill Romantic Rival and Feed Body to Pigs
Federal authorities thwarted plot that included intimidation tactics, a dead goose, and undercover surveillance.
By Jacob Charles
Published: May 20, 2025 9:00 am ET
ALBANY, NY – A New York man pled guilty Monday to using an interstate commerce facility in a murder-for-hire scheme that targeted a Capital Region man, federal prosecutors announced.
The elaborate and disturbing plot, which unfolded between November 2024 and January 2025, involved threats, staged intimidation tactics, and a gruesome plan to dispose of a body at a Pennsylvania hog farm.
Jeal Sutherland, 57, of Colonie, was arrested on January 27 and has been in custody ever since, according to United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III and FBI Special Agent in Charge Craig L. Tremaroli.
Sutherland admitted in court to using his cell phone to arrange the murder of a man who shared a child with Sutherland’s then-girlfriend. In exchange for carrying out the killing, Sutherland agreed to forgive the debt of the individual he hired. He also coordinated with an undercover FBI agent—whom he believed to be a hog farmer—to use a remote farm where pigs would consume the victim’s body.
In a disturbing act of intimidation, Sutherland had another man place a dead Canada goose on the doorstep of the victim’s mother. A threatening note, written by Sutherland, was stuffed into the bird’s beak.
“The FBI will continue to work with our partners at the United States Attorney’s Office to aggressively pursue and hold accountable anyone looking to commit such egregious acts of violence in our communities,” said FBI Special Agent Tremaroli.
United States Attorney Sarcone added, “Jeal Sutherland hatched a vicious plot to kill a romantic rival and intimidate his victim’s family. When members of the FBI and my office learned of Sutherland’s plans, they acted quickly and did not rest until Sutherland was brought to justice.”
According to a criminal complaint obtained by Law&Crime, an informant who once worked for Sutherland as an “enforcer” exposed the murder-for-hire plan. The informant told authorities that Sutherland had previously asked him to set fire to a vehicle belonging to the mother of an incarcerated man—another romantic rival—because she was scheduled to testify at a custody hearing.
The informant claimed that Sutherland had more sinister intentions for the incarcerated man, who was due for release in January. Sutherland allegedly said he wanted the man dead and “gone,” intending to dispose of the body at the same Pennsylvania hog farm.
The informant began recording conversations with Sutherland. In one December exchange, the informant said, “I have a van I can rent for like $250 from a nun. We take him to a farm and let the hogs eat him.” Sutherland replied that his girlfriend had her own idea: she wanted the man “strapped to a chair so she can hit him with a baseball bat.” But he also admitted she would “fold like an accordion” if questioned.
Sutherland told the informant, “I don’t want to know anything about it,” but insisted on receiving proof of death.
As the plan progressed, the FBI tracked key moments, including Sutherland writing a check to the informant as partial payment. On January 26, a day before his arrest, Sutherland met with the informant and his then-girlfriend at a bowling alley. Before proceeding, the informant said he needed to be paid.
They left together for a relative’s home, where Sutherland handed over $1,450 in cash, an E-ZPass transponder, and a bottle of Wild Turkey bourbon for the undercover hog farmer. The funds included $1,000 for the farm, $250 for van rental, and $200 for gas, court records show.
Sutherland now faces up to 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine, and up to three years of supervised release. Sentencing is scheduled for September 22, 2025, before U.S. District Judge Mae A. D’Agostino.
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
Editor's Note: ThePo makes every effort to accurately transcribe the contents of affidavits of probable cause contained in criminal complaints. Often, the complaints themselves are copies of copies of faxed copies, and are difficult to read. To confirm the accuracy of our transcription, contact the Magisterial District Court listed above and request a copy of the criminal complaint. It's a public record to which you are entitled.
Must Read
Editor Picks
Latest Articles
Feds: Man Admits to Plot to Kill Romantic Rival and Feed Body to Pigs
Federal authorities thwarted plot that included intimidation tactics, a dead goose, and undercover surveillance.
By Jacob Charles
Published: May 20, 2025 9:00 am ET
ALBANY, NY – A New York man pled guilty Monday to using an interstate commerce facility in a murder-for-hire scheme that targeted a Capital Region man, federal prosecutors announced.
The elaborate and disturbing plot, which unfolded between November 2024 and January 2025, involved threats, staged intimidation tactics, and a gruesome plan to dispose of a body at a Pennsylvania hog farm.
Jeal Sutherland, 57, of Colonie, was arrested on January 27 and has been in custody ever since, according to United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III and FBI Special Agent in Charge Craig L. Tremaroli.
Sutherland admitted in court to using his cell phone to arrange the murder of a man who shared a child with Sutherland’s then-girlfriend. In exchange for carrying out the killing, Sutherland agreed to forgive the debt of the individual he hired. He also coordinated with an undercover FBI agent—whom he believed to be a hog farmer—to use a remote farm where pigs would consume the victim’s body.
In a disturbing act of intimidation, Sutherland had another man place a dead Canada goose on the doorstep of the victim’s mother. A threatening note, written by Sutherland, was stuffed into the bird’s beak.
“The FBI will continue to work with our partners at the United States Attorney’s Office to aggressively pursue and hold accountable anyone looking to commit such egregious acts of violence in our communities,” said FBI Special Agent Tremaroli.
United States Attorney Sarcone added, “Jeal Sutherland hatched a vicious plot to kill a romantic rival and intimidate his victim’s family. When members of the FBI and my office learned of Sutherland’s plans, they acted quickly and did not rest until Sutherland was brought to justice.”
According to a criminal complaint obtained by Law&Crime, an informant who once worked for Sutherland as an “enforcer” exposed the murder-for-hire plan. The informant told authorities that Sutherland had previously asked him to set fire to a vehicle belonging to the mother of an incarcerated man—another romantic rival—because she was scheduled to testify at a custody hearing.
The informant claimed that Sutherland had more sinister intentions for the incarcerated man, who was due for release in January. Sutherland allegedly said he wanted the man dead and “gone,” intending to dispose of the body at the same Pennsylvania hog farm.
The informant began recording conversations with Sutherland. In one December exchange, the informant said, “I have a van I can rent for like $250 from a nun. We take him to a farm and let the hogs eat him.” Sutherland replied that his girlfriend had her own idea: she wanted the man “strapped to a chair so she can hit him with a baseball bat.” But he also admitted she would “fold like an accordion” if questioned.
Sutherland told the informant, “I don’t want to know anything about it,” but insisted on receiving proof of death.
As the plan progressed, the FBI tracked key moments, including Sutherland writing a check to the informant as partial payment. On January 26, a day before his arrest, Sutherland met with the informant and his then-girlfriend at a bowling alley. Before proceeding, the informant said he needed to be paid.
They left together for a relative’s home, where Sutherland handed over $1,450 in cash, an E-ZPass transponder, and a bottle of Wild Turkey bourbon for the undercover hog farmer. The funds included $1,000 for the farm, $250 for van rental, and $200 for gas, court records show.
Sutherland now faces up to 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine, and up to three years of supervised release. Sentencing is scheduled for September 22, 2025, before U.S. District Judge Mae A. D’Agostino.
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
Editor's Note: ThePo makes every effort to accurately transcribe the contents of affidavits of probable cause contained in criminal complaints. Often, the complaints themselves are copies of copies of faxed copies, and are difficult to read. To confirm the accuracy of our transcription, contact the Magisterial District Court listed above and request a copy of the criminal complaint. It's a public record to which you are entitled.
Must Read
