Defendant Pleads Guilty in Murder-for-Hire Conspiracy Targeting a Federal Witness in Massachusetts

Boston, MA – A Massachusetts man pleaded guilty yesterday in the U.S. District Court in Providence, Rhode Island to charges related to a conspiracy to murder a federal witness to prevent the witness from testifying in a criminal matter before the U.S. District Court in Massachusetts.

Kareem Pires, 27, of Wareham, MA pleaded guilty to conspiracy to tamper with a witness or informant by killing or attempting to kill in connection with a murder-for-hire plot. Pires is scheduled to be sentenced on May 18, 2026.

Court filings reflect that Pires was involved in a conspiracy to arrange for the killings of a federal witness connected to a pending federal criminal case. The agreement between Pires and a co-defendant to kill a witness in an official proceeding in the District of Massachusetts was devised while his co-defendant was being held pending trial at the Donald W. Wyatt Detention Facility

“This case underscores the unwavering resolve of the U.S. Marshals Service to protect the integrity of the federal justice system,” said Acting U.S. Marshal Dennis Matulewicz for the District of Massachusetts. “When individuals like Karrem Pires attempt to subvert the course of justice through violence and intimidation, they are not just attacking a witness, they are attacking the rule of law itself. By working in lockstep with our partners at the FBI, we were able to intercept this deadly plot and ensure that Karrem Pires faced justice before his intentions could become a reality. The safety of witnesses and the protection of the judicial process will always remain among our highest priorities.”

The U.S Marshal Service in the District of Massachusetts and the Federal Bureau of Investigation Boston Violent Crimes Task Force investigated this case along with significant assistance from the Donald W. Wyatt Detention Facility in Rhode Island.