By Karen Zautyk
LYNDHURST –
A 42-year-old township woman was arrested last Wednesday for allegedly trying
to hire a hitman to kill her ex-boyfriend’s current love interest, authorities reported.
The suspect was identified as Nicole Faccenda, 42, of Olive St., Lyndhurst. The identities of the former boyfriend, with whom Faccenda reportedly has a child, and the new girlfriend, were not made public.
According to authorities, the ex also has a child with his new paramour. The longterm
relationship between Faccenda and the man reportedly ended about three months ago.
According to the criminal complaint, as released by U.S. Attorney Paul Fishman in Newark, Faccenda, seeking help in finding an assassin, phoned a friend in Florida on or about Oct. 19 and explained what she wanted done. She reportedly commented that she had already bought a black outfit to wear to the girlfriend’s funeral and was ready to pay $10,000- $20,000 for the hit.
Later, the complaint states, Faccenda told the supposed hired gun that she wanted to
“spit on the casket.”
She also allegedly “stated that she did not want her ex-boyfriend dead but that he can be shot in the foot, but the victim’s girlfriend has to be shot in the head, ‘gone, gone to the moon’ and that her happiest day will be” when she gets the phone call that the job is done.
According to the complaint, Faccenda also said that she did not want the girlfriend’s children killed, “but if something happens to one of them, ‘Oh, well, I’m sorry.’ ”
The individual Faccenda had called in Florida immediately contacted federal authorities, Fishman’s office said, and agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives began recording conversations between the two.
On Oct. 21, the complaint charges, Faccenda met with the supposed hitman for the first time, in an A&P parking lot in Mahwah. At the initial meet-up, authorities said, Faccenda stated she had “watched a lot of Lifetime movies” and wanted to make sure the man was not a cop. Unbeknownst to the suspect, he was a “cop,” or, more specifically, an undercover ATF agent.
Subsequent meetings with her friend reportedly took place in the lot of the Red Robin restaurant in Clifton on Oct. 22 and at an Exxon station next to the Olive Garden restaurant in Secaucus on Oct. 24.
Faccenda reportedly agreed on a $10,000 price for the job – $5,000 up front and the balance when the deed was done.
During the negotiations with the hitman/agent, the complaint says, the suspect was told she had to be sure of her decision, and she allegedly responded, “That’s not even an issue.”
At the Secaucus meeting, Fishman’s office stated, Faccenda gave her friend an envelope containing $2,000 and later that night and into the early hours of Oct. 25, via phone and text messages, allegedly provided the intended victim’s name, photo and license plate number.
On Oct. 26, the friend phoned her to report the victim had been shot in the head and it had been made to look like a robbery, Fishman’s office said.
Faccenda was arrested the same day by ATF agents at her place of work in Mahwah.
“This was a cold and calculated plan to end the life of another person,” Fishman said. “It failed because of the actions of a private citizen, who immediately contacted authorities, and the diligence and hard work of federal investigators. Because of their quick action, a life was saved.”
Faccenda appeared in Federal Court in Newark on the 26th and was remanded on a charge of using the mail and facilities of commerce with the intent that a murder be committed for payment.
If convicted, she faces a maximum prison term of 10 years and a $250,000 fine.
Fishman’s office noted that the charges and allegations contained in the complaint are merely accusations, and the defendant is considered innocent unless and until proven guilty.
