Jury Finds Man Guilty Of Federal Murder-For Hire Charges

Kevin J. O’Connor, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, today announced that a federal jury in Hartford has found Ira L. Bloom, age 47, formerly of 84-86 Brunswick Street, Springfield, Massachusetts, guilty of one count of using interstate facilities in the commission of a murder-for-hire, and one count of traveling interstate in the commission of a murder-for-hire. The trial began on Tuesday, October 3, and the jury returned its verdict this morning after deliberating for approximately three hours.

“We're pleased with the jury's verdict, and will argue for a strict term of imprisonment,” U.S. Attorney O’Connor stated. “I want to compliment the excellent collaborative investigative work performed by ATF and the Windsor Police. Their efforts have removed a dangerous man from the streets and protected his intended victim.”

According to evidence presented by the Government during the trial,  Bloom contracted with a police informant to have Bloom's ex-wife raped and murdered. Evidence included several recorded phone calls, a recorded meeting at a restaurant in Enfield, Connecticut, and videotaped surveillance of a meeting in a vehicle between  Bloom and the confidential informant. The recorded conversations revealed that  Bloom wanted his ex-wife murdered on the following Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday morning, days when  Bloom had custody of the couple's son, who was eight-years-old at the time.  Bloom stated in the recordings that he wanted the murder to look like a car jacking, and he wanted it to happen when his wife arrived at work, typically 15 minutes before other employees arrived and the business opened. During the recorded meeting,  Bloom  provided the informant with information including where his ex-wife worked, when she arrived at work, a description of her vehicle and where she parked. Read more at usdoj.gov