Robeson Co. man pleads to trying to hire killer

LUMBERTON, NC (AP) — A Rowland man has pleaded guilty to trying to hire someone to kill a member of Lumberton City Council.

The Robeson County District Attorney’s Office say 55-year-old Ronnie Wayne Jones has been sentenced to 12 years in prison for solicitation to commit murder and several other charges.

The Fayetteville Observer reported those charges included obstructing police, obtaining property by false pretense and conspiracy.

Prosecutors said an investigator was reviewing financial fraud allegations against Jones.

Investigator Erich Hackney says after Jones was arrested on fraud charges, he hired someone to kill Hackney, who is also a member of Lumberton City Council.

The fraud investigation had found that Jones had obtained more than $1 million from victims in the Carolinas, Virginia, Georgia and Florida.

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