PLYMOUTH — A man from Bronx, New York City, was sent to Luzerne County this week to face allegations that he planned to murder a competitor as payback for a shooting a few years ago.
Gregory Thomas Warren, 38, was brought before District Judge James M. Dixon of Hazle Township on Thursday to answer to two counts of conspiring to commit murder as he reportedly joined forces with Gregory Duclaire, 39, and potentially others to take the life of Elijah Jones, 26, from South Grant Street, Wilkes-Barre.
Officials from the state Office of Attorney General and Luzerne County detective division believe that Jones was singled out in retaliation for a shooting at a business on South Main Street, Wilkes-Barre, a few years ago.
The plan to commit murder was stopped when Duclaire was detained for violating state parole by the Fugitive Apprehension Search Team from the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections, Plymouth police, Wilkes-Barre police and U.S. Marshals in January.
As per court records, Warren owned a business on South Main Street that was reportedly shot at by Jones. The business is not specified in court records or search warrant affidavits.
A proposed payment of $10,000 was made to carry out the killing of Jones, but the amount was later reduced to $5,000, according to court records.
According to court records, while discussing the murder plot inside a residence in Plymouth, Warren arrived with a 9mm handgun intended for the killing of Jones. The handgun was handed over to an uncharged collaborator at a gas service station on East Main Street in Plymouth, as outlined in court records.
Court records show that Warren talked about “bringing in a guy” from New York and kept watch on Jones, including driving by Jones’ home while also switching vehicles to avoid detection.
Warren was recently seized by the U.S. Marshals Fugitive Task Force in New York City and was held at the Eric M. Taylor Center on Rikers Island, NYC, until he was sent to Luzerne County this week.
Duclaire was charged with two counts of conspiracy to commit murder last week and is currently in custody without bail, also facing firearm charges.
