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Man sentenced in firebomb plot
By Times Staff
Published September 29, 2005
TAMPA - A man who tried to hire a contract killer to firebomb a Bradenton lingerie modeling agency was sentenced to eight years in federal prison in U.S. District Court on Wednesday.
Pele LaCruz Watkins, 29, of Tampa will serve eight years, followed by three more years for violating probation in Pennsylvania, federal officials said.
The sentencing followed Watkins' conviction on June 28 on charges of being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition, and solicitation to commit a crime of violence, specifically arson of an occupied building.
According to evidence at trial, authorities said, Watkins targeted a competitor's lingerie modeling agency known as Cupids. The store is open seven days a week, 24 hours a day and employs 12 women who model lingerie for customers.
Watkins was caught after meeting with an undercover agent from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives on at least two occasions in October 2004. The agent posed as a contract killer from New York City, and federal authorities said Watkins solicited the agent's participation in the plot.
Watkins provided the agent with a loaded 9-mm semiautomatic pistol as down payment, with the promise of paying him $3,000.
[Last modified September 29, 2005, 01:18:09]
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