A 57-year-old man from Colonie, New York, pleaded guilty Wednesday to orchestrating a murder-for-hire plot that involved plans to feed the victim’s body to pigs on a Pennsylvania farm.
Jeal Sutherland admitted in federal court that he used his cell phone between November 2024 and January 2025 to arrange the murder of a man who shares a child with Sutherland’s former partner. The intended victim was not harmed, and Sutherland was arrested by the FBI on January 27.
Plot involved debt forgiveness and disturbing threats
According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of New York, Sutherland agreed to forgive a debt in exchange for the killing. He also negotiated with an undercover FBI agent—posing as a hog farmer—to dispose of the body using pigs.
In a disturbing act of intimidation, Sutherland directed another individual to leave the carcass of a Canada goose at the victim’s mother’s home. A threatening note was stuffed in the bird’s beak, written under Sutherland’s instruction.
Law enforcement stopped the plan in time
“The FBI and our partners acted quickly to stop a vicious plan before it could be carried out,” said U.S. Attorney John A. Sarcone III. “This was a calculated attempt to eliminate a romantic rival and terrorize a family.”
Craig L. Tremaroli, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Albany Field Office, called the plan “diabolical” and praised agents for their swift intervention. “Thanks to decisive action, the intended victim was unharmed and Sutherland was taken into custody,” Tremaroli said.
Sentencing set for September
Sutherland faces a maximum of 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.
The case was investigated by the FBI’s Capital District Safe Streets Gang Task Force with assistance from the Colonie Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joshua R. Rosenthal and Joseph S. Hartunian are prosecuting.
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