Instead of hiring an actual hit man, Venkatesh Bhogireddy wound up enlisting an undercover ATF agent who posed as a motorcycle gang member named “Joe.”
U.S. District Judge Andrea Wood sentenced Bhogireddy, 46, a 10-year prison sentence convicted of an $8,000 murder-for-hire plot in 2019 aimed at his wife’s uncle amid contentious divorce proceedings.
By Michael Volpe
The arrest warrant affidavit for Venkatesh Bhogireddy reads like something out of a film noir.
Bhogireddy approached an individual asking them to help him find a hit man to kill his ex-wife and her uncle.
Bhogireddy and his ex-wife, Usha Karri, were going through a divorce, and this was the way, in Bhogireddy’s mind, to win.
The person Bhogireddy approached went to law enforcement rather than to a hit man, and that may be the reason why Usha Karri and her uncle are alive today.
That person became an informant and worked with the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms to gather incriminating evidence on Bhogireddy.
For months after this first encounter, Bhogireddy met with someone he thought was a hit man, only it was an undercover ATF agent.
The Chicago Sun Times describes some of the evidence at the trial.
“During that trial, prosecutors offered jurors multiple audio and video recordings of Bhogireddy plotting with ‘Joe’ to have his wife’s uncle ‘taken care of.’ Bhogireddy and his wife were in the midst of a divorce, and Bhogireddy thought the uncle was convincing his wife to do ‘a lot of stupid things.’
“Prosecutors noted that Bhogireddy traveled from Deerfield to Joliet each time he met with ‘Joe,’ a commute that took at least two hours even with no traffic.”
Bhogireddy was only sentenced to ten years. He has been in custody since 2021, and with credit for time served, he is scheduled to be released in November 2029, according to Federal Burea of Prison records.
The Sun Times article states that he’s likely to be deported upon release.
This all occurred in Cook County, Illinois, which includes Chicago.
In her victim impact statement, Usha said the following.
“This series of crimes repeatedly caused severe emotional distress to me and heightened concerns for safety of myself and my two small children.
“My children and I were already completely devastated by severe domestic violence by Venkatesh resulting in speech issues and health problems for my older child and in seeking safety in Domestic Violence shelters due to fear for my life.
“Several felony criminal cases against Venkatesh for the domestic violence like Battery, Criminal Sexual Assault and theft of my gold jewelry by violating an Order of Protection, are still pending with Chicago Police since July 2018.
“To further cover up the domestic violence and theft criminal cases and to eliminate the witnesses, Venkatesh hired hit men who are undercover federal agents from ATF, to get me and my uncle murdered.”
I reached out to the US Department of Justice for an explanation for why Bhogireddy’s sentence was only ten years. The DOJ did not respond, however, the Sun Times stated that the DOJ asked for twenty years, but Judge Andrea Wood said sentencing guidelines limited her to ten years.
As Usha noted in her victim impact statement, Bhogireddy had committed numerous acts of domestic violence against her before trying to have a hit man kill her.
There are at least four police reports for domestic violence related incidents against Bhogireddy toward Usha from 2018. Those incidents include theft, violating a protective order, and rape.
In each case, the charges were dropped or no charges were filed at all.
All those decisions were made by the office of outgoing Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx; check me out on the Morning Answer from 2022, talking about Foxx’s office handling of the case.
Venkatesh Bhogireddy is a very dangerous man, particularly to his ex-wife and their children.
It will surprise many to learn that even though he is in jail and likely to be deported; his child custody case continues.
In fact, even as he was engaging in alleged domestic violence in 2018-2019, the court was increasing his custody time.
In July 2019, the court stated the following.
“Venkatesh shall have parenting time effective upon entry of this Order, every Saturday and Sunday from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. For the first two (2) weeks, the supervisor/nanny shall continue to be present at all times and to follow the directions provided in the Affidavit previously herein. Thereafter, said supervisor/nanny shall only need to be present at the transitions of the children between the parties.
“Venkatesh shall be primarily responsible for the children’s care during all of his parenting time.
“Both- parties shall immediately engage in individual therapy as the therapist directs. Both therapists shall receive a copy of the evaluation prepared by Dr. Kerry Smith. Both parties shall execute releases allowing Lynn Wypych to speak with their therapist.”
Bhogireddy has been jailed since 2021. That has not stopped the court from continuing the child custody matter. He hasn’t since his children since his jailing.
The court has even appointed Lynn Wypych to be the guardian ad liem (GAL).
Wypych has not responded to numerous emails and calls for comments, including for this article.
In 2021, Wypych wrote to the court that she would like Bhogireddy’s custody time to increase- from zero due to his incarceration.
Even though Bhogireddy was sentenced earlier this year, the child custody case remains open. The judge currently presiding is Patricia Fallon.
When Judge Fallon campaigned to be a judge, she stated in a campaign advertisement, ““My temperament and my suitability for the bench I think really make me an outstanding candidate andsomeone who the voters should support. I have the highest respect for the law. I am currently in the position and plan to continue treating all litigants who come before me and all parties fairly and with respect”.
In a recently filed motion, Usha took issue with this characterization. Usha does not believe she is being treated fairly by Judge Fallon.
Until recently, Venkatesh has been paying for the GAL fees. He also has an attorney, Jami Buzinski. I reached out to Ms. Buzinski by email, but she did not respond.
He is likely paying her as well. According to Usha’s motion, Venkatesh is not paying child support. Usha said he is behind by $72,950 in her motion.
Usha’s motion is titled: MOTION TO RECONSIDER AND MODIFY THE ORDER FOR ‘CASH-FOR-CRIMES’ CRIMINAL SCHEME BY JUDGES AND LAWYERS, GAL’S ATTORNEY FEES AND TRIAL, ENTERED ON OCTOBER 30, 2024 AND OTHER RELIEF.
It was filed pro se, and it is written in clumsy manner, in my opinion. It argues that the current proceedings are part of a large conspiracy to cover up for Venkatesh’s many crimes.
It also argues that a recent ruling by Judge Fallon violates Illinois law.
According to Illinois law, GAL fees are to be paid only by ability to pay. Usha is on public aid; Bhogireddy has not paid child support.
Despite that, Judge Fallon has ordered her to contribute $4,333.50 to the GAL fee.
Usha’s recent motion attempted to reverse this action. Judge Fallon denied it. Usha told me that Judge Fallon has threatened her with contempt and possible jail if this fee is not paid.
Judge Fallon has scheduled a custody trial for February 2025.
Venkatesh Bhogireddy is in jail, convicted of trying to hire a hit man to kill his ex-wife; he’s likely to be deported after his sentence, according to the Sun Times.
Judge Fallon is still not sure what the custody arrangements should be.
