NJ Man Wanted To Hire Hitman To Kill Teen Girl: Feds

NEWARK, NJ – A Newark man was indicted Tuesday for attempting to hire a hitman to kill a minor girl, federal officials said.

Armando Conceicao, 57, is charged in a two-count indictment with conspiracy to commit murder for hire and causing another to travel interstate or using interstate facilities with the intention of murder-for-hire, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger said.

In May 2021, Conceicao communicated with another individual for the purposes of killing or locating another person to kill the victim, a 13-year-old girl from Texas, multiple outlets reported. Conceicao met with the individual and provided the girl’s address, a photograph of her and a quantity of cash so that individual could conduct reconnaissance near the victim’s home.

The individual drove from New Jersey to Texas and photographed the victim’s residence, a car belonging to the victim’s father, and the surrounding area, federal officials said. Conceicao then instructed the individual to murder the victim, Sellinger added.

The murder-for-hire charge is punishable by a maximum of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine, federal officials said.

U.S. Attorney Sellinger thanked special agents of the FBI, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge James E. Dennehy in Newark, with the investigation leading to today’s charge.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Olta Bejleri of the Criminal Division in Newark.