BROOKLYN MAN PLEADS GUILTY TO CHARGES OF CONSPIRING TO COMMIT MURDER

Bronx District Attorney Robert T. Johnson announced today that 34 year-old Edmund Melendez, of Brooklyn, has been convicted of conspiring to commit murder and set fire to a neighborhood pizza shop at 173 Hemlock Street, Brooklyn.

Melendez, of 22 Adler Place, Brooklyn, pled guilty to one count of Conspiracy in the 2nd degree, a class "B" felony offense. Under the terms of the plea agreement Acting State Supreme Court Justice Steven L. Barrett is expected to sentence Melendez a predicate felony offender, to a term of nine to eighteen years imprisonment.

The incident occurred on June 8, 2004, in the vicinity of White Plains Road and Bruckner Boulevard, when Melendez met with an undercover police officer from the Bronx DA's Office whom he believed could assist him in getting a gun to commit a robbery and murder. While plotting the crime, Melendez told the undercover detective that there would be $50,000 at the location that the two of them can split. The defendant then gave the detective a diagram of the pizza shop.

According to the Criminal Court Complaint, and in a videotaped statement, Melendez described in detail how the crime should take place. Melendez stated that he would "kill the owner and everyone who works there. I will cut their throats, kill them and burn the place". Melendez was then immediately arrested.

Mr. Johnson thanked the Officers of the NYPD Conditions Unit of the 43rd Precinct, and the members of the Bronx District Attorney's Detective Investigator's Squad for the expeditious conclusion.

Assistant District Attorney Dennis Consumano of the Rackets Bureau prosecuted this case.