FBI: Seattle federal prosecutor may have been killed by hitman

The FBI says it has information regarding the unsolved 2001 murder of Seattle federal prosecutor Tom Wales that suggests the shooting involved a conspiracy and a hitman.

Wales, 49, was sitting at his computer when he was shot at least two times through a basement window in his Queen Anne home.

The investigation has involved tens of thousands of documents, including numerous leads over 16 years that have not led to an arrest.

The FBI and Department of Justice Assistant Attorney General Rod Rosenstine will announce updates in the case at noon Wednesday. Wales’ daughter, Amy Wales, will also attend, as well as interim Seattle Police Chief Carmen Best and Seattle FBI Special Agent Jay Tabb Jr.

A Bellevue-area airline pilot who Wales had prosecuted in a fraud case has long been a suspect in the shooting. He was investigated and his homes searched on several occasions, but no charges were ever filed.

The Seattle Times reports the FBI is investigating a possible connection to that pilot and a small of group of people who may have been involved in Wales’ homicide.

Amy Wales told KIRO 7 in 2011 that she’s not giving up hope to find her father’s killer.

“I know for a fact that these types of things take time, and I really mean it when I say that I’m patient, that it will be resolved,” she said.

The reward for information leading to Wales’ killer increased to $1.5 million Wednesday.