A Levittown man already in jail for scamming coin collectors out of $40 million was accused of attempting to hire a hit man to kill the federal judge and prosecutor responsible for his conviction.
News 12 [paid link] has reported that Joseph Romano offered undercover FBI agents $40,000 in order to kill the judge and prosecutor.
"Back in August, authorities say an informant told police about Romano's alleged plan to torture and murder the judge and the prosecutor, prompting investigators to pose as hit men."
According to the New York Times, Romano, 49, wanted the posing hit men to cut off the heads of his intended victims "and preserve them in formaldehyde as souvenirs."
Several reports state that Romano was conspiring with an associate, 38-year-old Dejvid Mirkovic, to arrange the killings.
Both men face a maximum life sentence if they are convicted.
The Wall Street Journal reported that Romano was sentenced to 15 years in prison in February "for running an operation that sold bogus collector coins to elderly investors. Authorities said he defrauded the investors, including some who lost their life savings, out of $40 million."
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