Inmate offers jail food as payment in murder-for-hire plot, Lake County deputies say

LAKE COUNTY, Fla. — Deputies in Lake County said they busted a jail inmate who tried to hire another inmate to kill his ex-wife and her boyfriend.

Michael Lee, 32, is in jail on misdemeanor charges for violating probation. He now faces a felony charge of soliciting murder.

Investigators said he offered another inmate 20-trays of food while in jail and given $2,000 after the “job” was over.

The other inmate denied he was going to kill anyone, investigators said.

"The trays were given to the inmate. Not sure if it was more manipulation to take the trays. He explained to the detective he had no plans to kill anyone,” said Fred Jones with the Lake County Sheriff’s Office.

A deputy searching jail cells found the hit-list in Lee's cell, investigators said.

"In the Lake County Detention Center, like many correctional facilities across the country, food is the currency," Jones said.

Cox Media Group