Malden Man Sentenced to 25 Years in Murder Plot

CONCORD, N.H. - A Massachusetts man is facing 25 years in prison after he was convicted of buying illegal guns and explosives with the intent of killing his ex-wife's husband, a judge and former Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley.

According to a release from United States Attorney Scott W. Murray, Edward McLarnon, 69, of Malden, Mass was convicted for receiving an unregistered silencer, receiving firearms with the intent to commit murder, receiving explosive materials and receiving an explosive with the intent to harm persons or property in January.

According to court documents, McLarnon made contact with a person he believed to be an arms dealer (who was actually an undercover FBI agent) for the purpose of buying illegal weapons in October of 2015.

After negotiating with the agent at a store in Chichester and paying a total of $700 cash, on November 6, 2015, the defendant took possession of a .22 caliber pistol with silencer, an AK-47 style semi-automatic rifle, and explosives, along with ammunition for the firearms.

McLarnon then was arrested at a rest stop in Seabrook, NH. The evidence further showed that McLarnon intended to use the weapons to kill his ex-wife's husband, as well as a Boston federal judge and a former Massachusetts Attorney General.

U.S. Attorney Murray said the lengthy sentence is an appropriate punishment for McLarnon , whose conduct he called "truly frightening and dangerous.”

“Because the defendant was frustrated with the legal system, he planned to engage in disturbing acts of violence," he said in a statement. "We should all be grateful that our law enforcement partners were able to prevent this defendant from putting his violent plan into action. The substantial prison sentence imposed by the court should act as a deterrent to others who might plan to commit violent crimes”.

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