ATTLEBORO MAN INDICTED IN SCHEME TO KILL WITNESSES IN FEDERAL CRIMINAL CASE

Boston, MA... A federal grand jury yesterday indicted an Attleboro man on charges stemming from an investigation of a plot to murder victims and witnesses in a massive fraud case currently pending against him.

United States Attorney Michael J. Sullivan and Warren T. Bamford, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation in New England, announced today that JAMES BUNCHAN, 52, of 50 Maynard Street, Attleboro, Massachusetts was charged in a two count indictment with using the U.S. Mails with the intent to commission a murder-for-hire, and soliciting a federal crime of violence.

BUNCHAN was initially arrested on November 15, 2005, in connection with a federal fraud case charging him with defrauding hundreds of Cambodian investors of approximately $30 million. BUNCHAN was ordered to be held in federal custody pending the outcome of the case. Yesterday's charges arise from BUNCHAN's alleged effort, while in federal pre-trial detention, to hire a hit man to kill one of his co-defendants and eleven key witnesses against him in the fraud case. The indictment alleges that, on or about July 10, 2006, BUNCHAN sent a letter to the hit man soliciting the killings in exchange for money. In reality, however, the hit man was an undercover FBI agent.

If convicted, BUNCHAN faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, to be followed by 3 years of supervised release, and a $250,000 fine.

Trial for the fraud case against BUNCHAN and his two co-defendants is scheduled to begin on June 4, 2007, before U.S. District Judge Richard G. Stearns.

The case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrew E. Lelling in Sullivan's Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force Unit. The underlying fraud case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jack Pirozzolo in Sullivan's Economic Crimes Unit.

The details contained in the indictment are allegations. The defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.