Posted 1:27 am Thursday, June 21, 2012
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Grand Jury Indicts Two Tyler Men
By DAYNA WORCHEL
Staff Writer
Staff Writer
Two Tyler men who authorities say conspired to burn down a Tyler substance abuse recovery center -- so it would not be in competition with another in the city -- have been indicted in the United States District Court, Eastern District of Texas.
The charges in the indictment include murder for hire after one of the men attempted to hire someone to kill his co-conspirator so the co-conspirator would not testify against him, Assistant U.S. Attorney Jim Noble said.
A federal grand jury indicted Daniel Joseph Kubisty, 55, in May, on a charge of malicious attempt, by means of fire, to destroy or damage a building, according to court documents. But on June 6, a grand jury added Edward Jacobs, 44, to the indictment, charging him with solicitation of arson, witness tampering, murder for hire, solicitation for murder and possession of a firearm in furtherance of violent crime, Noble said.
Kubisty and Jacobs have been charged in the June 6 indictment with conspiracy to commit arson and attempted arson, Noble said.
The indictment alleges that between March 10 and March 19, Jacobs and Kubisty conspired with one another to burn the Add-Recovery Center in Tyler in order to gain a competitive advantage for the Methadone Clinic of East Texas, which also is in Tyler, Noble said.
Between May 21 and June 1, Jacobs approached another person about murdering Kubisty to prevent his testimony in the federal prosecution against Jacobs, according to court documents. Jacobs also provided the individual with ammunition and firearms to commit the murder, the court documents state.
If convicted, Kubisty could be sentenced to up to 10 years in federal prison, Noble said. Jacobs is facing up to 30 years in prison, and both may have to pay a fine of up to $250,000.
The bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives is investigating the case, and Noble is prosecuting it.
