Boynton Beach Man Pleads Guilty In Murder-for-Hire Plot

Makram Khashman (Photo: Broward County Jail)

A Boynton Beach man, previously from Boca Raton, pleaded guilty this week to charges related to a murder-for-hire plot involving an undercover federal agent.

Makram Khashman, 58, paid an undercover agent from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), posing as a hitman, to commit the murder.

As part of his guilty plea, Khashman admitted he met with the undercover agent on Feb. 29, and told the agent that the victim had “put Khashman and his family out on the street” by taking over a million dollars from him, and a business worth around $3 million, according to a statement from the office of the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida. Khashman entered his plea in federal court in Fort Lauderdale.

Khashman said he did not care how the victim was killed and negotiated a price of $5,000 for the murder. Khashman added that the would-be hitman could keep the cash the agent took from the murdered victim. Khashman agreed to provide half the payment and details about the victim at a later meeting.

On March 19, Khashman met with the undercover agent a second time, bringing an initial $2,500 payment for the murder. Khashman spelled out the victim’s first and last name and provided details regarding the victim’s pattern of life, including the victim’s cars and work schedule. Khashman told the agent about a secluded location that the victim frequented, and agreed that the final payment for the murder would be due when the “hitman” provided photographic evidence that the victim had been killed. Khashman was later arrested, and the intended victim suffered no physical harm.

Khasman is scheduled to be sentenced on Jan. 7, 2025 by U.S. District Judge Rodney Smith. Khashman faces up to 10 years in prison.

The ATF’s Miami office investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Corey O’Neal and Camille Smith are prosecuting it.