A Florida man who manufactured a fake pardon from Donald Trump and tried to hire a hitman to assassinate witnesses in a trial against him is set to serve 35 years.
Prosecutors said that Alexander Leszczynski, of North Redington Beach, in the US state of Florida, tried to steal millions using various fraud schemes and when caught created a fake pardon from former President Donald Trump.
He then allegedly tried to hire a “hitman” to kill witnesses.
The 25-year-old was first charged in April 2022 with fraud, bank fraud and money laundering.
He was accused of creating fake charities including one called Love & Bliss Inc.
Leszczynski also carried out Payroll Protection Plan fraud during the COVID-19 pandemic to the tune of USD 196,000 (GBP 159,000).
He also tried to deposit USD 2.7 million (GBP 2.19 million) in bogus cheques into the Love & Bliss business account, the authorities said.
The authorities seized USD 337,000 (GBP 274,000) from one of his bank accounts, according to reports.
The US Attorney’s office said after his arrest: “When he discovered that the money had been frozen, he attempted to have it released by producing a fabricated pardon purportedly signed by former President Donald Trump.”
Leszczynski also told a confidential informant that he had USD 45,000 (GBP 36,600) at his house set aside to pay for a hitman to kill witnesses set to testify against him.
He has now been sentenced to 17 years and 6 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to murder-for-hire and obstruction charges in June.
The sentence will be served consecutively with the 17 years and six months he was already sentenced to after pleading guilty to fraud charges last November.
