Inmate Who Wanted To Kill Parents Goes On Trial In May

An inmate at the Wyoming State Penitentiary who tried to hire a hit man to kill his parents will go on trial in federal court in Cheyenne in May.

Andrew Lambert Silicani is charged with four counts of using the mail in a murder-for-hire scheme, according to the March 19 indictment.

The murder-for-hire charges are the same.

But Silicani attempted on four separate dates to find someone to kill his mother and stepfather to cash in their life insurance policies and get their house with an estimated total value of $850,000, according to court records.

If convicted, each count is punishable by up to 10 years imprisonment, plus a $250,000 fine, for a possible total of 40 years behind bars and a $1 million fine.

His trial is set for May 18 before Chief U.S. District Court Judge Nancy Freudenthal.

Silicani, who was 23 when charges were filed, is serving  time for robbery and conspiracy in the penitentiary after pleading guilty to stabbing a 19-year-old man who was on inline skates in Cheyenne in January 2011.

The case started last fall, when Silicani asked a confidential source of FBI agent Paul Kanish about killing his mother and step-father for $250,000, but the source declined and was in contact with the penitentiary staff about the request.

Silicani then made four attempts on Dec. 29, Jan. 21 and 26, and Feb. 3. He was willing to pay the killer $100,000.

He figured he'd have lots of money left over, according to a letter he wrote a source: "The (source) advised Silicani was very excited, and that Silicani told (the source) he (Silicani) plans to buy a Cadillac Escalade, clothes and jewelry."