PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) — Two Massachusetts men are in federal custody after they were allegedly involved in a murder-for-hire conspiracy.

Elijah Melton, 26, of Taunton, and Kareem Pires, 25 of Wareham, are accused of trying to pay someone to kill a witness in a drug case against Melton, as well as two federal prosecutors, U.S. Attorney Zachary Cunha announced Thursday.

Cunha said the case dates back to when Melton was arrested on fentanyl distribution charges in December 2023. A cooperating witness told federal investigators that Melton had offered to pay him $75,000 to murder someone believed to be cooperating with the drug case, but he refused the money.

Read more at wpri.com.