Crime & Safety

Jailed Man Charged with Trying to Hire Hitman

He allegedly offered thousands in exchange for killing a woman and was busted by an undercover deputy.

A Norcross man in Gwinnett County jail allegedly tried to hire a "hitman" to kill a woman who had crossed him. The man he offered the cash to was actually an undercover deputy, according to Stacey Bourbonnais of the Gwinnett County Sheriff's Department. 

Richard Allen Fowler, 55, was being held at the detention center after being sentenced for Terroristic Threats and Acts and other charges. He was awaiting transfer to a state facility.

"We received information that he was trying to have a female killed," said Bourbonnais. He then unwittingly offered $4,500 to an undercover deputy, who busted Fowler on July 28, according to the Sheriff's Department. 

Find out what's happening in Lilburn-Mountain Parkwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Bourbonnais said that the woman Fowler tried to plot against was not connected to the man romantically but someone that he believed had "caused him trouble" in the past. 

Fowler can now add two more felonies to his list of charges: Criminal Attempt to Commit a Crime and Criminal Solicitation.

Find out what's happening in Lilburn-Mountain Parkwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

This article originated at Norcross Patch.


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

To request removal of your name from an arrest report, submit these required items to arrestreports@patch.com.