New York man accused of trying to hire hitman to kill FBI agents, prosecutor

A New York man already awaiting trial in a federal case has been charged with trying to hire a hitman to kill two FBI agents and a federal prosecutor assigned to his case, according to prosecutors.

Aaron Corey, 23, of Albany, also known as “Baggeth,” was charged in a federal criminal complaint with attempted murder for hire, solicitation of a crime of violence and obstruction of justice, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of New York.

Prosecutors said Corey was in pretrial detention on unrelated federal child pornography charges when he sent multiple letters to another inmate asking for help hiring someone to steal electronic devices seized by the FBI and to kill the two FBI agents and the assistant U.S. attorney handling the case.

The complaint alleges that Corey directed that the agents and prosecutor be kidnapped, injected with fentanyl and put through a woodchipper.

When the prosecutor assigned to his case left the U.S. Attorney’s Office for another job, Corey allegedly added the new prosecutor to the list.

The other inmate gave the letters to his attorney, who contacted the FBI, prosecutors said. Investigators then arranged for the inmate to provide Corey with the phone number of an undercover officer posing as a hitman.

Corey later wrote to the undercover officer offering $200 down and $5,000 total to steal the devices from the FBI, along with $500 down and $30,000 total to kill the two agents and the newly assigned prosecutor, according to the complaint.

Prosecutors said he again asked for the victims to be put through a woodchipper and requested a video recording.

Corey also spoke with the undercover officer several times and arranged for his fiancée, who lives outside the United States, to send the down payments, prosecutors said. Authorities said the payments were sent.

Prosecutors said Corey self-identifies as a member of 764, a network of nihilistic violent extremists that operates in the United States and abroad. Federal authorities have said the network targets vulnerable minors online and encourages the sharing of extreme gore material and sexual abuse material.

Corey was arraigned Tuesday in Albany and will remain in pretrial detention. The new charges carry a combined maximum sentence of 50 years in prison.