Hit man solicitation convictions vacated

SAN FRANCISCO — The Ninth Circuit ruled that a federal murder-for-hire resulting in death “is not categorically a crime of violence and therefore cannot serve as a predicate offense.” A man sought to vacate four of his convictions after he hired a hit man who killed two of his business associates, then hired another hit man to kill three others but whose murders were not carried out. The district court vacated charges that did not result in death but declined to vacate the other two; it must now vacate the two remaining solicitation convictions.