A career criminal charged in a bizarre murder-for-hire scheme was sentenced Wednesday to 16 years in prison. George Bratsenis, 74, will serve time for his role in the plot in which political consultant Sean Caddle paid him and another man in 2014 to kill longtime associate Michael Galdieri. Galdieri was found stabbed to death in his Jersey City apartment, which had been set on fire. Bratsenis pleaded guilty a year ago to the charges. His accomplice Bomani Africa was sentenced last month to 20 years behind bars.
Delivering the sentence Wednesday, U.S. District Judge John Michael Vazquez called the scheme “depraved.” The murder unraveled after Caddle admitted to the plot and entered a plea agreement with federal agents, which sent political circles into a tailspin. Caddle was well known for his political fundraising; his clients included U.S. Sen. Bob Menendez (D-NJ) and former state Sen. Ray Lesniak. Caddle is scheduled to be sentenced in June.
