A 65-year-old Gwinnett County man allegedly wanted his former business partner dead and apparently thought he had found the "hit man" to do it.
But instead, that hit man told police about the plot. With the help of surveillance cameras and a doctored photo of the intended target, investigators arrested the man, identified as Joseph Memar of Duluth. Address records show Memar and the man he allegedly wanted dead previously were neighbors.
On Tuesday, an informant, whose name was not released, told police Memar offered to pay him to kill a 59-year-old Norcross man, according to Cpl. Jake Smith with Gwinnett County police.
The following day, detectives had surveillance cameras recording a meeting between the informant and Memar, Smith said. During the meeting, Memar allegedly offered the man $1,500 up front to kill the man, followed by an addition $1,500, according to police.
On Thursday, the informant met again with Memar while under surveillance. During this meeting, the man showed Memar a photo that had been digitally altered to appear as the dead Norcross man, Smith said.
"The informant showed the photo to Memar, who shook the informant's hand and thanked him," Smith said.
At the end of the meeting, Memar was arrested and charged with criminal attempt to commit murder. Memar was booked into the Gwinnett County jail, where he remained Friday night without bond.
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