A federal jury found a 26-year-old Tampa man guilty of trying to have another man killed. The two men were defendants in a drug case.

According to court documents and testimony, Asieba Imadjami Thomas was in jail on May 3, of last year, on charges of possession of crack cocaine with the intent to distribute within 1,000 feet of a public school.

He was sentenced to 17 years and 8 months in federal prison for the federal drug violations stemming from this arrest.

While in jail, Thomas allegedly approached another defendant and offered to murder that person’s co-defendant to prevent him from testifying in court.

Thomas was released from jail after posting bond on June 3, 2011. After being released from jail, Thomas met with the individual and discussed committing the murder in detail.

Thomas allegedly wanted a $40,000 payment, in part with cocaine and $20,000 in cash after the crime was committed. He also asked the other man to provide the gun to commit the murder.

According to court documents, Thomas told the man that he would bury the body in the countryside and then he would disappear after the crime was committed.

On September 7, 2011, Thomas met with the individuals twice. During the second meeting, Thomas accepted three quarters of a kilogram of cocaine and a gun. He was arrested immediately after the transaction was completed.

Thomas was indicted on the murder for hire charge on October 27, 2011.

He was convicted of murder for hire, possession and attempted possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine, being a felon in possession of a handgun, possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, and a crime of violence. He will be sentenced on October 4, 2012.