MOULTRIE — An Indian national, earlier indicted in an alleged mass murder plot, received 20 years probation after he entered a blind plea Friday on reduced charges of terroristic threats. Shyamsunder G. Contractor, was indicted earlier this year on charges that he allegedly plotted to kill nine Moultrie residents, all involved in some capacity in the local convenience store industry.

Contractor, also known as “Sammy,” 49, 2809 Fifth St. S.E., was indicted on nine counts of criminal conspiracy to commit murder on three families. Contractor had never bought a gun nor gave a gun to the man he allegedly was trying to hire as an assassin and no money changed hands, Assistant District Attorney Brian McDaniel said, explaining the blind plea arrangement.

Superior Court Judge James Hardy gave Contractor the maximum number of years probation for each of the two counts. He sentenced Contractor to 20 years total with some jail time. Contractor has been jailed since his February arrest in Florida.

Accompanying the probation sentence were fines of $10,000.

Evidence against the defendant was gained through a confidential informant. The Colquitt County Sheriff’s Department enlisted the help of the Georgia Bureau of Investigation in the case. At that time, the informant told investigators Contractor allegedly tried to hire him to kill Aruna Patel, Bhavna Patel, Naresh Patel, Hiren Patel, Nisha Patel, Jay Patel, Kenny Patel, Jimmy Patel and Singita Patel.

Contractor, a citizen of India, likely will be deported, McDaniel said, but if and when will be left up to immigration enforcement.

“Now that he is a convicted felon that should violate the terms of a visa,” he said.

The nine would-be victims in the case were comfortable with the pleas to terroristic threats, the prosecutor said, but were unaware as yet of Contractor’s sentence and probation conditions.

Defense attorney for Contractor, Jon Forehand, declined comment as of press time.