WILKES-BARRE, Pa. — A Luzerne County businessman offered a prospective hitman thousands of dollars to commit murder, the county district attorney's office said.
Dashawn William Nelson, 29, conspired to have a man killed in retaliation for shooting at Nelson's Wilkes-Barre business, according to a criminal complaint filed by county detectives. However, the would-be assassin instead cooperated with law enforcement.
The murder plot was initially first broached in January, investigators said.
Nelson, of Kingston, reportedly offered a man $5,000 to "take care of" someone else. A recorded phone call made by the cooperating witness tied Nelson in to the plot, investigators said.
Nelson's criminal complaint does not identify by name others allegedly involved in the plot. However, the man reportedly tasked with committing the murder told law enforcement about the plot following his arrest on a state parole warrant earlier this year.
The criminal complaint also does not identify Nelson's business. Pennsylvania Department of State filings show he was managing member of Big Baby's Restaurant.
Nelson's warrant remains active. He is charged with soliciting murder.
