State Pen Inmate Charged With Murder-For-Hire To Kill His Parents
A Cheyenne man incarcerated in the Wyoming State Penitentiary has been charged with trying to hire someone to kill his parents, according to federal court records.
"(Andrew) Silicani wanted to kill his (Silicani's) parents in order to receive their insurance money and house," according to the amended criminal complaint written by FBI special agent Todd Scott and filed in U.S. District Court on Thursday.
"Silicani had a notebook in which he (Silicani) recorded the potential payout of both life insurance policies and the house," Scott wrote. "The total was estimated at $850,000."
Silicani, 23, is serving time for robbery and conspiracy after pleading guilty to stabbing a 19-year-old man who was on inline skates in Cheyenne in January 2011.
In the federal system, murder-for-hire is punishable by up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
The case started on Nov. 6, 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.
Kanish told the confidential source that he would pose as a hit man, with the code word of "demolition work" as a term for a murder for hire. The FBI also set up a covert post office box for the source and Silicani to send mail.
On Dec. 29, the source told Kanish that Silicani offered $2,000 as a finder's fee for the hit man. Once the mother and step-father were dead, Silicani wanted a hit man to kill his father, too, for more money.
Kanish, posing as the hit man and an attorney named "Drake Smith," wrote to Silicani and asked about names, addresses and the deadlines for each killing, as well as how much he would be paid.
On Jan. 21, Silicani wrote Kanish telling him the deadlines would be by the end of February and $100,000 was the most he would pay for both individuals as long as he didn't ask for more than $5,000 up front.
The same day, Kanish received a letter from the source describing Silicani's enthusiasm. "The (source) advised Silicani was very excited, and that Silicani told (the source) he (Silicani) plans to buy a Cadillac Escalade, clothes and jewelry."
On Jan. 26, Kanish wrote Silicani, telling him he was comfortable with the $100,000 fee. Kanish also asked about any security systems at the home. Kanish wanted to know about why Silicani was in prison, and asked to set up an attorney visit with him.
On Feb. 3, Silicani wrote back: "In the letter Silicani reported that there was a security system on the home and that he Silicani could not provide information for the security codes. Silicani also reported, 'I understand that your name is Drake Smith, my attorney.' Silicani also listed the charges he (Silicani) was currently in prison for."