Authorities say a white South Carolina man thought he was offering $500 to a hitman to kill his black neighbour, hang his body from a tree and burn a cross on his lawn – but he was mistaken.
Court documents show the supposed hitman contacted through a white supremacist group was really an undercover officer, and 25-year-old Brandon Lecroy was charged with murder for hire.
Federal prosecutors say Lecroy sent photos of the neighbour to the undercover officer and said "$500 and he's a ghost".
Court papers don't say what Lecroy had against his neighbour in the town of Hodges in Greenwood County.
Lecroy was arrested last month after meeting with the undercover officer and giving him $100. Lecroy's lawyer did not answer an email from a reporter.
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