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Two women take pleas in murder-for-hire plot

Posted at 10:59 AM, Nov 01, 2016
and last updated 2016-11-01 10:59:48-04

Federal prosecutors in western New York say two women have pleaded guilty to charges stemming from one of the woman's plot to kill her ex-husband and his new wife.

The U.S. Attorney's Office in Buffalo says 57-year-old Debra Arno, formerly of suburban Amherst, pleaded guilty Monday to solicitation of interstate murder for hire. Prosecutors say 57-year-old Lauren Frye, of Buffalo, pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm.

Authorities say police received a tip in May 2015 about a murder-for-hire plan and eventually identified the intended victims as Arno's ex-husband and his wife. Officials say a search of Frye's apartment turned up three shotguns, photos of the couple, a diagram of their home and a schedule of their activities.

Prosecutors say Arno wrote a letter to Frye offering her $20,000 to kill the couple.