Debra Arno Sentenced for Hiring Hit on Ex-Husband

Buffalo, N.Y. – In a grim turn of events, Debra Arno, 58, formerly of Amherst, NY, has been sentenced to time served (21 months) for her role in a chilling plot to murder her ex-husband and his current wife.

According to Acting U.S. Attorney James P. Kennedy, Jr., the case came to light when Kenmore Police Department received a tip about a potential murder-for-hire scheme on May 26, 2015. The police swiftly identified the victims, including Arno’s ex-husband and his wife, and alerted them to the threat.

On May 28, 2015, authorities executed a search warrant at the residence of Lauren Frye, whom Arno had solicited for the murders. They seized numerous incriminating items, including letters from Arno detailing the plot, along with photographs of the intended victims and a diagram of their home.

In one letter, Arno offered Frye $6,000 upfront and an additional $14,000 upon completion, totaling $20,000 for the hit. Text messages between the two revealed Arno’s persistent demands for the murder to be carried out.

Frye was subsequently convicted and sentenced to 18 months in prison. The sentencing of Arno is the culmination of a joint investigation by the Village of Kenmore Police Department, the East Aurora Police Department, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation Safe Streets Task Force.

Debra Arno’s cold-hearted plot for hire has finally come to an end, leaving behind a trail of fear and justice.

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