Statement From Middlesex D. A. Marian Ryan Regarding Andrew Gordon Case

"While this most recent murder-for-hire scheme is being prosecuted Federally, were it to be pursued at the State level we would once again find ourselves limited by the absence of an appropriate penalty for this most serious conduct. I have been working with Representative David Rogers to draft “An Act to Properly Punish the Solicitation of Felony Crimes” (H. 1557) which was filed this legislative session and provides an appropriate state prison sentence for someone convicted for soliciting murder which, under our current law, can only be punished by a minimal house of correction sentence. As the SJC noted in 1997, updating the penalties for this crime is “long overdue.” I am hopeful that the Legislature will move on this bill before we are faced again with this situation."