[10/04/02]Federal authorities will prosecute a Vicksburg resident suspected of shopping for a hit man, Police Chief Tommy Moffett said this morning.

Charles Richard Carroll, 39, of 200 Linda Drive, was arrested at a local hotel and placed in federal custody in the Madison County Jail.

Moffett said the investigation began Sept. 25, but declined to reveal details including the identity of the target. He did say profit was the motive.

“We learned that (Carroll) wanted to hire someone to kill somebody,” Moffett said. Federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms were contacted and they arranged for an undercover agent to meet with Carroll.

“They discussed the negotiations of a contract for the killing,” Moffett said, calling the evidence against the suspect “irrefutable.”

The undercover ATF agent and Carroll had several conversations before the face-to-face meeting was set up, Moffett said.

Carroll, charged with conspiracy to commit a crime, was to make an initial court appearance this morning, Vicksburg Police chief of detectives Capt. Mark Culbertson said.