Multiagency Investigation Lands New York Bank Manager 114 Months in Prison for Scheme to Hire Hitman to Murder Brother-in-Law

NEW YORK — A Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) New York investigation, in coordination with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the New York City Police Department (NYPD), the New York State Police and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), has resulted in the sentence of Reshma Massarone to 114 months in prison.

Massarone, 40, of Pine Bush, previously pleaded guilty to murder-for-hire for plotting to hire a hitman to murder her own brother-in-law. The former New York bank manager was sentenced Aug. 27.

HSI New York acting Special Agent in Charge Darren B. McCormack praised the outstanding collaboration between HSI and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York, the DEA’s New York Field Division, the NYPD, the New York State Police and the IRS.

According to the investigation and statements made in public court proceedings:

Between July 20, 2023, and Aug. 16, 2023, the defendant plotted with an individual to hire a hitman to murder her own brother-in-law in exchange for $10,000. The person she communicated with was a member of a foreign police force who became an undercover law enforcement agent to develop evidence of Massarone’s plot to hire a hitman to have the victim murdered.

Massarone exchanged dozens of messages on social media and participated in numerous phone calls with the undercover agent, imploring him to murder the victim or hire someone who would. For example, in Facebook Messenger communications, when the undercover agent told Massarone that the plan to murder her brother-in-law was set for the next day, Massarone responded that if he “take[s] care of business,” then he would get paid. Massarone also told the agent that she had other “jobs” for him and swore on her kids’ lives that he would get paid if he “[got] rid” of the victim for her. After that, Massarone told the agent, “No more text.”

As part of Massarone’s plan, she wired $2,500 to the undercover agent to give to the hitman as a down payment for the victim’s murder. Video surveillance at a Western Union captured Massarone counting 25 $100 bills, totaling $2,500.

After Massarone wired the money to the agent, Massarone continued to plan the victim’s murder. When the agent told Massarone that the hitman’s plan was to shoot the victim and that there was “no turning back,” Massarone replied, “Right. No turning back.”

The victim was never murdered. As time passed and the victim remained alive, Massarone grew impatient with the undercover agent. Massarone urged him to murder the victim, suggesting that “rat poison can do a great job.” Massarone told the agent, “You is all talk and no action,” and “Come on do the thing and I will take care of you.” Massarone threatened to find someone else to murder the victim, stating, “Either way, if I find somebody to do the job you’re going to get blame, so cut the bullshit and let’s get it done.”

Massarone was also sentenced to three years of supervised release following her period of incarceration.