Jeal Sutherland, a 58-year-old resident of Colonie, New York, was sentenced to 87 months in federal prison for his involvement in a murder-for-hire scheme targeting a man from the Capital Region. The sentencing was announced by First Assistant United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III and Craig L. Tremaroli, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Albany Field Office.
According to court documents and Sutherland’s plea agreement, between November 2024 and January 2025, Sutherland used his cell phone to coordinate the planned killing of a man who is the father of a child with Sutherland’s then-partner. As part of the arrangement, Sutherland agreed to forgive a debt owed by the person he hired to carry out the murder. He also offered payment to an undercover FBI agent—whom he believed was a hog farmer—for access to a Pennsylvania farm where pigs would be used to dispose of the victim's body.
In late January 2025, Sutherland directed another individual to place the carcass of a Canada goose on the doorstep of the intended victim’s mother. The dead bird contained a threatening note written at Sutherland’s instruction.
The plot did not result in harm to the intended victim. Sutherland was arrested by FBI agents on January 27, 2025, and has remained in custody since that time.
United States District Judge Mae A. D’Agostino imposed an additional $15,000 fine on Sutherland and ordered him to serve three years of supervised release following his prison term.
First Assistant United States Attorney Sarcone said: “Jeal Sutherland thought he could order up the murder of his romantic rival right from his cell phone. Thanks to the hard work of FBI Albany and members of my office, Sutherland will now be dialing out from a federal prison for the foreseeable future.”
FBI Special Agent in Charge Tremaroli commented: “The details of Mr. Sutherland’s callous plans are deeply disturbing and prove he had every intention of ending a life. Instead, his vicious and intricate plot has landed him in federal prison. This case clearly illustrates the FBI will work tirelessly with our law enforcement partners to swiftly investigate and interrupt any individual looking to carry out such egregious acts of violence in our communities.”
The investigation was conducted by the FBI’s Capital District Safe Streets Gang Task Force with assistance from the Colonie Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joshua R. Rosenthal and Joseph S. Hartunian.
