46-Year-Old Pakistani National Charged With Foiled Assassination Plot To Kill An American Politician Or U.S. Official

Wednesday, August 7, 2024, 4:30 P.M. ET. 4 Minute Read, By Art Fletcher & Jennifer Hodges: Englebrook Independent News,

BROOKLYN, NY.- Early Tuesday, August 6, 2024, Asif Merchant, also known as Asif Raza Merchant, 46, a Pakistani national with ties and whose wife and kids are residing in Pakistan, was taken into custody in early July 2024 and charged yesterday in connection with a murder-for-hire plot as part of an alleged scheme to assassinate a U.S. politician or U.S. government official on U.S. soil.

     According to charging documents filed with the court, sometime in April 2024, Merchant, after spending time in Iran, arrived in the United States from Pakistan and contacted a person he believed could assist him with the scheme. That person reported Merchant’s criminal conduct to law enforcement and became a confidential source, identified as CS.

     In early June, Merchant met the CS in New York and explained the assassination plot. Merchant, during the meeting, told the CS that the opportunity was not a one-time opportunity and it would be ongoing.

     Merchant then made a “finger gun” motion with his hand, indicating that the opportunity was in connection with a killing. Merchant further stated that the indented victims would be “targeted here,” referring to the United States. Merchant then instructed the CS to arrange meetings with individuals whom Merchant could hire to carry out these killings.

     Merchant explained that his plot involved multiple criminal schemes, 1. stealing documents or USB drives from a target’s home; 2. planning a protest; and 3. killing a politician or government official.

     During that meeting, Merchant began planning potential assassination scenarios and quizzed the CS on how he would kill a target in the various scenarios. Merchant told the CS that there would be “security all around” the person and or target.

     Merchant stated that the assassination would occur after he left the U.S., and he would communicate with the CS from overseas using code words. The CS asked whether Merchant had spoken to the unidentified “party” back home with whom Merchant was working with. Merchant responded that he had, and the party back home told him to finalize the plan and to leave the United States.

     In mid-June, Merchant met with the purported hitmen, who were, in fact, undercover federal agents, UCs in New York. Merchant advised the UCs that he was looking for three services from them: theft of documents, arranging protests at political rallies, and for them to kill a “political person.” Merchant that the hitmen would receive instructions on who to kill either the last week of August or the first week of September after Merchant had departed the United States.

     Merchant then began arranging means to obtain $5,000 in cash to pay the UCs as an advance payment for the assassination, which he eventually received from an individual overseas. On June 21, 2024, Merchant met with the UCs in New York and paid them the $5000 advance. After Merchant paid the $5000 to the UCs, one of the UCs stated, “Now we’re bonded,” to which Merchant responded, “Yes.” The UC then stated, “Now we know we’re going forward. We’re doing this,” to which Merchant responded, “Yes, absolutely.” 

     Merchant subsequently made flight arrangements and planned to leave the U.S. on Friday, July 12, 2024. On July 12, FBI agents placed Merchant under arrest before he could leave the country. Merchant had stated that he has a wife and children in Iran and a wife and children in Pakistan.

     “For years, the Justice Department has been working aggressively to counter Iran’s brazen and unrelenting efforts to retaliate against American public officials for the killing of Iranian General Soleimani,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “The Justice Department will spare no resources to disrupt and hold accountable those who would seek to carry out Iran’s lethal plotting against American citizens and will not tolerate attempts by an authoritarian regime to target American public officials and endanger American’s national security.”

     The investigation remains active and ongoing, Members of the FBI and the U.S. Department of Justice are continuing their investigation.

     This is a developing story; we will bring you more information once released by federal authorities and what we may learn.