Maryland Brothers Acquitted in Alleged Murder-for-hire Plot

Two brothers accused of carrying out the slaying of a blind and mentally disabled man as part of an insurance scam have been found not guilty of all counts, including conspiracy to commit murder.

James and Kareem Clea (klee) were acquitted by a Baltimore jury on Wednesday after a two-and-a-half-week trial.

They were accused in the death of 37-year-old Lemuel Wallace, who was found in a Leakin Park restroom on Feb. 4, 2009. He had been shot multiple times.

Former Baltimore pastor Kevin Pushia admitted that he paid a hit man $50,000 to kill Wallace. He pleaded guilty last year to insurance fraud and conspiracy to commit murder.

The Baltimore Sun reported that prosecutors largely relied on Pushia’s testimony in the case against the Cleas.