BOSTON (AP) – A Massachusetts man who tried to hire a battered man to kill his wife after she sought a restraining order has been sentenced to 10 years in prison.
The sentence for Massimo Marenghi, 57, handed down Monday in federal court in Boston was the most possible under sentencing guidelines, federal prosecutors said.
Marenghi’s conduct was “disgraceful,” Acting U.S. Attorney Joshua Levy said in a statement.
“Domestic violence is a shocking reality in our society. What was meant by the prosecution of Mr. Marenghi, he said. “He intended to engage in the most extreme form of domestic violence by conspiring to kill his wife.”
Authorities began investigating in January 2021 when someone went to law enforcement and reported that Marenghi had complained about a restraining order and asked for help in killing his wife, prosecutors said.
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Federal investigators ordered that person to bring Marenghi to an undercover agency posing as a contract killer.
A Malden man met with an agent in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, discussed a $10,000 price, gave the agent a photo of his wife’s home and explained how to avoid surveillance cameras.
In one meeting, he gave the agent a $1,500 deposit, a photo of his wife, a description of his car, and details about his work schedule.
Marenghi pleaded guilty in March to murder for hire.
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