Massachusetts man unknowingly hires undercover federal agent to kill spouse

A Massachusetts man who tried to rent a contract killer to homicide his spouse had unknowingly requested an undercover federal agent to hold out the hit, authorities say.

Massimo Marenghi, 56, now faces as much as a decade behind bars after pleading responsible Thursday to the murder-for-hire, the US Lawyer’s Workplace for the District of Massachusetts mentioned in a launch.

The Malden man “complained about his spouse looking for a restraining order towards him” throughout a January 2021 assembly with an undercover FBI agent posing as a contract killer, officers mentioned.

Marenghi later met with the spy and requested him to assist “get rid of” his downside because the pair “mentioned a value of $10,000,” the feds mentioned.

The hubby offered the agent with {a photograph} of his spouse’s dwelling and detailed methods to evade surveillance cameras whereas finishing up the crime, they mentioned.

Throughout a second assembly, Marenghi gave the federal agent a $1,500 money deposit for the homicide and urged him to hold out the killing quickly, authorities mentioned.

Marenghi advised the agent that the earlier the “demolition job” happens, the faster the employed gun would be capable of pay the remainder of what he owed, officers mentioned.

Whereas making an attempt to arrange the homicide, Marenghi gave the spy numerous particulars about his soon-to-be ex-wife, authorities mentioned.

He offered {a photograph} of his spouse, the colour, mannequin, and license plate quantity on her automobile and the hours of operation of her work, the feds mentioned.

Marenghi additionally offered a schedule that indicated when he would have custody of their youngsters, which he mentioned can be the “finest time for the development work to begin,” authorities mentioned.

Along with a sentence of as much as 10 years, the cost of murder-for-hire consists of three years of supervised launch and a positive of as much as $250,000.

Marenghi is scheduled to be sentenced June 8.