Debra Arno, Solicitation of Interstate Murder for Hire, New York 2015

A chilling plot to murder an ex-husband and his current wife was foiled in 2015 when authorities received a tip about a murder-for-hire plan in Buffalo, New York.

Debra Arno, 58, of Amherst, New York, was sentenced to time served (21 months) by U.S. District Judge Richard J. Arcara for her role in the plot.

According to court documents, on May 26, 2015, the Kenmore Police Department received a tip about the murder-for-hire plan. The following day, Kenmore Police, with the assistance of the East Aurora Police Department, identified the victims and made them aware of the potential plot.

On May 28, 2015, a search warrant was executed at the residence of co-defendant Lauren Frye, the person solicited by Arno to carry out the murders. Officers seized a number of items, including multiple letters from Arno to Frye, photos of the intended victims, a diagram of their residence, and a schedule of their activities.

In one letter written by Arno to Frye, Arno stated, ‘I am enclosing $6000. I will give you an additional $14,000 upon completion. A total of $20,000. A man, his description and address enclosed, is to be eliminated or hurt. He lives with 2 other people. Both expendable (if there is an accident).’

Frye was also previously convicted and sentenced to 18 months in prison.

Today’s sentencing is the result of an investigation by the Village of Kenmore Police Department, under the direction of Chief Peter Breitnauer; the East Aurora Police Department, under the direction of Chief Ronald Krowka; and the Federal Bureau of Investigation Safe Streets Task Force, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Adam S. Cohen.

Arno’s exact criminal charges include Solicitation of Interstate Murder for Hire. The crime date was not specified in the source, but the sentence was handed down on an unknown date.

The total amount involved in the plot was $20,000.

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