A former New York City police officer pleaded guilty Friday to obstruction of justice in connection to an alleged murder-for-hire plan to kill her estranged husband and her then-boyfriend’s 14-year-old daughter, court documents show.
Valerie Cincinelli, 36, is accused of paying her one-time boyfriend John DiRubba $7,000 to hire a hit man to kill her husband, Isaiah Carvalho, during a divorce and custody battle over their son in 2019, the Washington Post reported, citing court documents. DiRubba reportedly contacted the Federal Bureau of Investigation when Cincinelli wanted to target his teenage daughter as part of the plot.
“I deleted images on an iPhone with the intent to obstruct a federal grand jury investigation into the murder for hire,” Cincinelli said during the plea hearing Friday. “I knew what I did was wrong, and I’m truly sorry.”
OFFICER FIRED FOR TRYING TO STOP COLLEAGUE’S CHOKEHOLD WINS PENSION LAWSUIT
Cincinelli did not want her ex-husband getting some of her NYPD pension, and she would complain when DiRubba spent money on gifts for his daughter from another relationship, prosecutors said, citing text messages.
If the case went to trial, federal prosecutors threatened to introduce audio and video evidence in which Cincinelli was allegedly overheard discussing the murder-for-hire plot and an alibi.
The former officer, who has been in custody since her arrest in 2019, broke down in tears during her trial, saying, “For two years, I haven’t seen my son.”
Federal prosecutors compromised as part of the plea deal, agreeing not to seek more than 60 months in prison when Cincinelli is sentenced on Oct. 29. Her defense is seeking a release on bail while she awaits sentencing.
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER
The former officer began service with the NYPD around 2007, according to court documents, and she resigned in March in anticipation of her plea, her attorney said.
The Washington Examiner reached out to the New York State Unified Court System but did not immediately receive a response.
