Massachusetts Man Pleads Guilty to $10,000 Murder For Hire Plot

Massimo Marenghi, 56, who unknowingly hired an undercover FBI agent to kill his wife, has pleaded guilty. Marenghi entered the plea on Thursday, March 16, and is scheduled to be sentenced on June 8, according to a release by the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the District of Massachusetts. 

Fox News reports someone told authorities that Marenghi had “complained about his wife seeking a restraining order against him" on New Year’s Day 2021 and asked them to help kill her. The FBI instructed the unnamed person to introduce Marenghi to an agent who was pretending to be a for-hire killer

Marenghi and the undercover agent met twice. Once on Jan. 20, 2021, and another time on Jan. 29, 2021. He gave the undercover agent a picture of his wife’s home and told him how to avoid being seen on the cameras during their first meeting. On the second meeting, Marenghi handed the agent a $1,500 deposit "for the murder and explained that the sooner the 'demolition job' takes place, the sooner he will be able to pay the balance owed." Marenghi agreed to pay $10,000 for the killing of his soon-to-be ex-wife. 

According to People, special agent Bryce Ferrara filed an affidavit to charge Massimo Marenghi with "the commission of murder-for-hire.” Marenghi faces up to 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000.