Guilty Plea Entered In Second NY Podiatrist Murder-For-Hire Plot Against Wife: DA

NEW CITY, NY — A former podiatrist has pleaded guilty to evidence tampering in connection with a second murder-for-hire plot against his wife, prosecutors announced Monday.

Under the terms of a plea bargain agreement, Ira Bernstein, 51, of Montebello, New York, will be sentenced to between one-and-a-half and three years in state prison, according to Rockland County District Attorney Thomas E. Walsh II.

Judge Robert J. Prisco is scheduled to sentence Bernstein on Dec. 5.

The first murder plot dates back nearly a decade, prosecutors said. Back in 2016, Ramapo police arrested Bernstein and charged him with conspiring to murder his wife, Susan Bernstein, and conspiring to assault two insurance investigators.

Bernstein pleaded guilty in 2017, and was sentenced to between five and 15 years in state prison. He was released in July 2021.

The second murder plot happened in 2022, according to prosecutors, who said Bernstein sought to hire someone to kill Susan Bernstein. The evidence tampering charge stemmed from Bernstein’s efforts to prevent an audio recording of the plot from being used against him, according to prosecutors.

Read more:
Podiatrist Accused Of Murder Solicitation, Sister Of Coverup Help: DA
No Take-Back For Murderous Podiatrist: Judge
Police Allege Podiatrist, Girlfriend Planned to Kill Wife