news-record.com

NEWS

High Point man pleads guilty to murder plot

Wednesday, April 15, 2009
(Updated 2:27 pm)

HIGH POINT (MCT) — A High Point man accused of arranging a murder-for-hire scheme that targeted his wife has agreed to plead guilty to a federal charge.

In documents filed in U.S. District Court last week, Sabbir Hussain Shah agreed to enter a plea of guilty to an indictment charging him with using interstate commerce to arrange a murder in exchange for something of monetary value.

Federal authorities accuse Shah of offering cash and a car to a confidential law enforcement source as compensation for killing his wife, Nayyar Shah, at the couple's Florida Street home last year. Shah was arrested after the source went to High Point police in November 2008.

According to his plea agreement, Shah, 56, faces a prison term of no more than 10 years. A sentencing date has not been scheduled.

According to police, the informant said Shah began talking to him in September 2008 about having his brother-in-law killed, according to court documents filed with the plea agreement. After a meeting with Shah at his business, Zee Auto Sales on South Hamilton Street, in late October, the source claimed Shah said he wanted his wife killed.

Shah gave the informant instructions on how he wanted his wife killed while the source was wearing a concealed recording device and officers conducted surveillance. Shah gave the informant information about his wife's schedule and a house key, with instructions to kill her after Shah left for his native Pakistan on Nov. 13. He also provided a diagram of the home.

''Shah said his wife wanted all his money," prosecutors wrote in court papers. "Shah told the (source) to wear gloves during the murder and destroy all clothing that the (source) wore during the murder as well as the key that (Shah) provided."

Shah agreed to give the source a Lexus and $500, with the promise of more money when he returned from Pakistan, according to prosecutors. After his arrest, investigators found documents at Shah's home indicating he planned to return from Pakistan in mid-January.

Authorities initially filed a charge of conspiracy to commit murder against Shah in state court. That charge was dropped after federal authorities assumed jurisdiction of the case.

Accompanying Photos

Photo Caption: Shabbir Hussain Shah

eMail Updates

Advertisement | Advertise with Us

Featured Ads

Search

Advertisement | Advertise with Us
Advertisement | Advertise with Us
Advertisement | Advertise with Us

News & Record Network Sites

User Tools

  • Mobile
  • Social
  • RSS
  • Share
  • Sign in to MyNR

Search