A Massachusetts man who attempted to hire a contract killer to murder his wife unknowingly hired an undercover federal agent to carry out the hit.
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Massimo Marenghi, 56, now faces up to ten years in prison after pleading guilty to murder-for-hire on Thursday, March 16, according to the US Attorney’s Office for the District of Massachusetts.
During a January 2021 meeting with an undercover FBI agent posing as a contract killer, the Malden man “complained about his wife seeking a restraining order against him,” officials said.
Marenghi later met with the undercover agent and asked him to help “eliminate” his problem for a $10,000 fee, according to the feds.
The husband gave the agent a photo of his wife’s house and instructions on how to avoid surveillance cameras while committing the crime, they said.
When they met again, Marenghi gave the federal agent a $1,500 cash deposit for the murder and urged him to carry it out as soon as possible, according to authorities.
According to officials, Marenghi told the agent that the sooner the “demolition job” took place, the sooner the hired killer would be able to pay the rest of what he owed.
According to authorities, Marenghi provided the undercover agent with various details about his soon-to-be ex-wife while attempting to set up the murder.
He provided a photograph of his wife, the colour, model, and number plate number of her car, as well as the hours she works.
After unknowingly hiring an undercover federal agent to murder his wife, the husband pleads guilty.
Marenghi also provided a timetable for when he would have custody of their children, which he stated would be the “best time for the construction work to begin,” according to authorities.
In addition to a sentence of up to ten years in prison, the charge of murder-for-hire carries a three-year supervised release period and a fine of up to $250,000.
Marenghi is set to be sentenced on June 8.
