NEWARK N.J. (1010 WINS) -- A 73-year-old Connecticut man admitted to killing a man on behalf of a New Jersey political operative, the Department of Justice announced Thursday.
George Bratsenis worked with Bomani Africa on behalf of Sean Caddle to kill the shady political mover’s longtime associate Michael Galdieri in conspiracy that reads like a crime novella.
Caddle and Africa pleaded guilty on Jan. 25 and 26 respectively.
In May 2014 Bratsenis and Africa traveled to the Galdieri’s apartment in Jersey City where they stabbed him to death and set fire to his home.
“Eight years ago, these three individuals – Caddle, Bratsenis, and Africa – conspired to brutally murder the victim,” U.S. Attorney Philip Sellinger said. “At Caddle’s direction, Bratsenis and Africa stabbed the victim to death in the victim’s apartment, and then set it ablaze. These guilty pleas bring a measure of justice to the victim’s memory and for his family.”
As promised, Caddle gave Bratsenis and Africa thousands of dollars to split at a diner parking lot after the murder.
In the 70s and 80s, Bratsenis worked for the Gambino crime syndicate and a dirty police lieutenant in Connecticut, The New York Times reported.
The former marine’s rap sheet from that period includes robbery, burglary and another instance of conspiracy to commit murder.
Caddle, 44, has a long history working behind the scenes in New Jersey politics.
He’s worked on the campaigns of Senator Robert Menendez and Raymond Lesniak — two New Jersey state senators, The New York Times reported.
Bratsenis recruited Africa to carry out the job alongside him.
He faces life in prison for one count of conspiracy to commit murder for hire.
Sentencing is scheduled for early August.
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