Colonie Man Sentenced for Elaborate Hog Farm Murder-for-Hire Plot

Jeal Sutherland plotted to have his romantic rival killed and body fed to pigs at a Pennsylvania farm.

Published on Feb. 10, 2026

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A 58-year-old Colonie man named Jeal Sutherland has been sentenced to over 7 years in prison for orchestrating a murder-for-hire plot. Sutherland planned to have someone kill his romantic rival and then have the body fed to pigs at a Pennsylvania farm. Federal authorities uncovered the plot after a wire-wearing confidential informant, who was implicated in a car bombing, worked with the FBI to record conversations between Sutherland and the informant about the plan.

Why it matters

This case highlights the lengths some individuals will go to in order to eliminate perceived rivals, even going so far as to plot an elaborate murder-for-hire scheme. It also raises questions about the role of confidential informants in law enforcement investigations and the potential for abuse of such arrangements.

The details

According to court documents, Sutherland and the confidential informant, a convicted murderer on lifetime parole, developed a plan to kill Sutherland's romantic rival. The plan involved picking up the target after his release from prison, offering him a job, and then having the informant kill him and transport the body to a Pennsylvania farm to be fed to pigs. A nun was enlisted to provide a van for $250, and an undercover FBI agent posing as a pig farmer was to receive $1,000 and a 'good bottle of bourbon' for his role. Sutherland also directed a third party to place a dead Canada Goose with a threatening note on the target's doorstep.

  • In November and December 2024, federal investigators recorded conversations between Sutherland and the confidential informant about the murder plot.
  • On January 27, 2025, the FBI arrested Sutherland.

The players

Jeal Sutherland

A 58-year-old man from Colonie, New York who pleaded guilty to using interstate commerce facilities in the commission of murder-for-hire.

Confidential Informant

A convicted murderer on lifetime parole with an admitted drug problem who cooperated with federal authorities in exchange for leniency in connection with state criminal charges.

Undercover FBI Agent

Posed as a pig farmer who was to receive $1,000 and a 'good bottle of bourbon' for his role in the murder plot.

Sister-1

A nun who was enlisted to provide a van for $250 to be used in the murder plot.

Romantic Rival

The intended victim of the murder-for-hire plot, who was serving time for a sex offense against a child and had been violent with Sutherland's partner.

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What they’re saying

“Jeal Sutherland thought he could order up the murder of his romantic rival right from his cell phone.”

— John Sarcone, First Assistant U.S. Attorney (U.S. Attorney's Office, Northern District of New York)

What’s next

The judge will decide on Tuesday whether to allow Sutherland out on bail pending his sentencing.

The takeaway

This case highlights the disturbing lengths some individuals will go to in order to eliminate perceived rivals, even going so far as to plot an elaborate murder-for-hire scheme. It also raises questions about the role of confidential informants in law enforcement investigations and the potential for abuse of such arrangements.