Ben Patrick Mullavey, a 66-year-old resident of Mechanicsburg, Illinois, has pleaded guilty to attempting to arrange the murder of a business associate in Florida. On April 30, 2025, Mullavey admitted to using interstate commerce facilities to commission a murder-for-hire, offering up to $10,000 for the killing. The plot was foiled when the intended hitman cooperated with the FBI.
According to court documents, Mullavey met with the would-be hitman in Sikeston, Missouri, on January 3, 2024, discussing the murder and providing details about the victim. He supplied a Florida license plate, a crossbow with arrows, $1,000 in cash, and directions to the target’s location. The FBI arrested Mullavey shortly after the meeting.
The charge carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Sentencing is scheduled for July 22, 2025. The case was investigated by the FBI and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christopher Shelton, Alexandra Hughes, Karen Ditzler Shinskie, and Jack Korba.
For more information, refer to the U.S. Department of Justice’s official release: (Department of Justice).
