NEW YORK (1010 WINS) — A Queens Supreme Court grand jury indicted a 44-year-old man on Friday for hiring an undercover officer posing as a hitman to kill a witness in his ongoing assault case, according to the Queens District Attorney’s Office.
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Mark Douglas wanted to prevent a victim he allegedly beat with a broken glass bottle outside his apartment in May 2021 from testifying, according to prosecutors.
The victim reportedly needed over 100 stitches to his face.
The NYPD started investigating Douglas for the second time when he allegedly started looking for an assassin in the winter of 2021.
The District Attorney’s Violent Criminal Enterprise Bureau and Felony Trial Bureau worked with the NYPD’s Intelligence Bureau to set up a sting operation.
During the spring and summer of 2022 Douglas spoke on the phone with undercover police officers posing as hitmen, according to the DA’s office.
In August, Douglas allegedly met the undercover cop posing as a hitman in person and agreed to pay him $5,000 to kill the witness.
Law enforcement arrested him on Sept. 7 on new charges.
Now, in addition to the assault and weapons charges from the May 2021 attack, he faces charges for conspiracy, bribery and witness tampering.
“The defendant sought and contracted the death of an individual whom he had previously assaulted with a sharp object — an injury that required over 100 stitches,” said Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz. “These murder-for-hire allegations are an affront to the foundation of the criminal justice system and will not be tolerated.”
Douglas’ next court date is slated for Sept. 28.
If convicted, he faces up to 25 years in prison.
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