Providence man charged with trying to hire hitman to kill 2 May 3, 2021 GMT PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) — A Rhode Island man tried to hire a hitman to torture and kill two men, including a contractor he said owed him $8,500, federal prosecutors said Monday. Agustin Vinas, 51, of Providence, was held without bail at an initial court appearance last week, according to a statement from the U.S. attorney’s office in Rhode Island. An email seeking comment was left Monday with Vinas’ public defender. Authorities started investigating last month after Vinas had a chance meeting with an acquaintance and mentioned that he was owed the money by a person who had threatened to harm his family if he did not stop his repeated requests for payment, according to an FBI affidavit.