Published: November 20, 2008 08:47 am      

Man pleads guilty to murder for hire

As part of plot, Bill Perkins was to aid in murdering witness in brother’s drug-trafficking case

By Brad Hicks / Staff Writer

One of the Knox County men charged for his alleged involvement in a murder for hire plot pleaded guilty Wednesday in U.S. District Court in London.

Bill Perkins, 42, of Barbourville, pleaded guilty to the charge of conspiracy to use a facility of interstate commerce to commit a murder for hire. Bill Perkins was asked to help in the murder of a witness who was set to testify in a state drug-trafficking case against his brother, Randall Perkins.

According to the criminal complain, in May 2008, Randall Perkins, an inmate of the Whitley County Detention Center, allegedly tried to persuade a former cellmate to murder the witness set to testify against him.

The cooperating witness (CW), notified authorities and agreed to cooperate with investigators from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Barbourville Police Department. On several occasions, the CW communicated in coded language with Randall Perkins through letters and in person about the alleged murder plot.

Randall Perkins allegedly told the CW that he believed he would be acquitted of the state drugs charges if the witness were unable to testify against him. The CW was allegedly promised around $4,000 and a car if he killed the witness and was allegedly told by Randall Perkins to meet with Bill Perkins to receive a firearm.

On June 11, the CW met with Bill Perkins at his home in Barbourville, where he was provided with a .22 caliber rifle and 16 rounds of ammunition.

Two weeks later, the CW met with Randall Perkins at the jail to inform him the job had been completed. The CW showed Randall Perkins a cell phone picture of a person who appeared to be dead — but the photo was actually a mock death scene constructed by investigators.

When asked when he would be paid, Randall Perkins told the CW he could get $500 from Bill Perkins as a down payment.

On June 27, authorities arrested Bill Perkins and recovered a receipt made out to the CW and $500 cash.

According to the plea agreement, Bill Perkins admitted that he provided a firearm to the CW and that, under the direction of Randall Perkins, gave $500 to the CW as a down payment for committing the murder.

He also said he provided the firearm to the CW under the direction of his brother.

Bill Perkins is scheduled for sentencing in U.S. District Court in Lexington on March 12, 2009. He faces up to 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years supervised release.

Randall Perkins currently has a jury trial scheduled to begin on Feb. 23, 2009.