BUFFALO, N.Y. (WKBW) — An East Aurora woman has been arrested after attempting to hire a hitman to permanently injure her ex-boyfriend.
The U.S. Attorney's Office of the Western District of New York says 47-year-old Yanyan Lesser has been arrested and charged with transmitting in interstate or foreign commerce a communication containing a threat to injure another person.
The U.S. attorney's office says Homeland Security Investgations in St. Paul, Minnesota, received information that between February 14th and February 19th 2019 an unidentified individual going by "TREE I" conspired with another unknown individual on a dark web site to commit a crippling assault of "G.Z" (Lesser's ex-boyfriend) who lives in Orlando, Florida.
"TREE I" directed what investigators believe was a hitman, to "break 'G.Z's' bones and leave him permanently confined to a wheelchair or crutches."
"G.Z." was interviewed by investigators at his home, he was unaware of any threat but stated his ex-girlfriend was unstable and would be capable of something like this.
Following an investigation, including a review of cell phone and bank records, it was determined Lesser is "TREE I."
Some of the instructions provided by Lesser to the purported hitman included:
· “Because of a business dispute, I would like to give this guy a lesson:give him a good beating and legs broken, waist broken and even cripple the mark of his legs.It need to be looks like a robbery, looks like To rob of his money or property,NOT looks like revenge.”
· “I will add $2500 more to cover the cost of beating, crippling and robbery look like job. Please remember must be looks like a ROBBERY!That's very important!”
· “And please let hitman knows that Chinese guy no speak English also no understanding English too.So when hitman to do the job with crippling and looking like robbery,Remember to Yelled at that Chinese guy:"MONEY!MONEY! " Because that's only the English word that guy can understand it!”
Lesser made two Bitcoin transfers totaling over $7,000 to a Bitcoin wallet address in control of the dark web site to facilitate the assault.
Lesser faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a $250,00 fine.
