Nikhil Gupta tells court he planned Gurpatwant Pannun assassination plot alone, prosecutors seek 24 year jail term
Nikhil Gupta, who pleaded guilty to charges tied to a foiled plot to kill Sikh separatist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, told a US judge he acted alone and regrets his decision. Prosecutors seek a sentence of just over 24 years, while his lawyers are asking for about 12 years.
Nikhil Gupta, the accused Indian smuggler, has claimed he planned the assassination attempt on Gurpatwant Singh Pannun alone. In a letter to US District Judge Victor Marrero ahead of sentencing on November 20, Gupta expressed remorse for his actions, stating, "I wish I could turn back time to 2023 and undo my mistakes." He admitted to contemplating suicide upon his arrest, but also expressed regret for the pain he caused his family.
Gupta pleaded guilty to three federal charges, including murder-for-hire and conspiracy to commit murder-for-hire and money laundering. Prosecutors are seeking a 24-year sentence, while his lawyers are requesting 12 years. The plot was uncovered when Gupta attempted to hire a hitman for $100,000, thinking the contact was an undercover federal agent.
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