Documents Reveal Possible Motive for Murder-for-Hire Allegation

New court documents revealed a possible motive in a murder-for-hire allegation against Reshma Massarone, who was working as a credit union branch manager when she was arrested.

The 39-year-old mother of two children pleaded not guilty to a racketeering murder charge during a federal court hearing in White Plains, N.Y., on Sept. 5 for allegedly hiring a hitman to kill her brother-in-law. Since her arrest in August, she has been held in federal custody because a judge determined the manager of the Woodstock, N.Y., branch of the $1.4 billion Mid-Hudson Valley Federal Credit Union was a danger to the community. However, she appealed the custody order and requested to post a bond to get out of jail while waiting for her case to be heard and decided by a trial jury.

Before the Sept. 20 appeal hearing, federal prosecutors filed a heavily redacted letter to the judge that opposed her appeal for bond because there were no conditions that would reasonably assure Massarone’s future court appearances as required, or for the safety of the community. Prosecutors alleged in their letter that Massarone had other people on a hit list and that her brazenness and hatred for her brother-in-law may compel her to attempt to finish the job.

U.S. District Court Judge Cathy Seibel denied Massarone’s request to post bond and ordered her to remain in federal custody because she continues to be a danger to the community.

Massarone began working at Mid-Hudson Valley FCU in April.

In July, Massarone contacted “Individual-1,” a law enforcement officer in Guyana, using Facebook messenger and solicited this Individual 1’s services to murder her brother-in-law in exchange for $10,000, according to the criminal complaint.

However, in September 2022, while Massarone was working as a branch manager for Rhinebeck Bank in Warwick, N.Y., her brother-in-law allegedly contacted the bank’s human resources department and demanded that they terminate her employment, according to prosecutors. What’s more, the brother-in-law allegedly drove to Massarone’s workplace and she said that she was scared for her safety. After this happened, Massarone filed a family offense petition against the brother-in-law, seeking an order of protection. She also claimed that the brother-in-law allegedly “behaved similarly” when she was working at other banks in 2015 and 2020. In those years, Massarone was working at Citi Bank and Kearny Bank, according to her LinkedIn page. As part of the family court litigation, Massarone obtained a restraining order against her brother-in-law.

In March, a month before Massarone was hired by Mid-Huson Valley FCU, she attended a funeral, which also was attended by the brother-in-law. After he entered the funeral home, Massarone called New York City police and demanded his arrest for allegedly violating the restraining order.

“The BWC (body worn camera) shows that the defendant (Massarone) is irate about the victim’s (brother-in-law’s) presence,” prosecutors wrote in their court filing. “She referred to the victim as a wicked man. A few minutes later, she said, ‘He needs to go to hell. Tell him to get out from here. He’s going to be arrested. He needs to get arrested. I want him arrested. Yes, I do. I want him arrested. The victim does not appear to approach or speak to the defendant at any point in the BWC.”

Witnesses interviewed by police said the brother-in-law was in the funeral home for a short period of time and left. Another witness said the brother-in-law didn’t do anything, walked past Massarone and said nothing to her.

Police then arrested Massarone and charged her with criminal contempt in the second degree, which was dismissed in June, prosecutors said.

According to prosecutors, however, 10 days after the funeral someone sent an email to Massarone’s bank accusing her of harassment. The identity of that someone was redacted from the letter.

The email alleged that Massarone sent the unidentified person “racist comments pertaining to African Americans” and alleged that Massarone is “unhinged and will tarnish your bank’s name.”

The email also claimed that Massarone was escorted out of the funeral home by police because of “violence she displayed to other guests and police officers.”

A spokesperson for Mid-Hudson Valley FCU said in August that Massarone had been placed on administrative leave and pointed out there is no reason to believe her personal legal matters are connected to the credit union in any way.

Prosecutors did not say whether Massarone’s brother-in-law contacted the credit union.

According to the criminal complaint and indictment, Massarone knew Individual-1, whom she contacted to hire a hitman, because Individual-1 was friends for years with her brother-in-law and his wife. Whenever they traveled to Guyana, Individual-1 traveled with the couple to provide security.

Although Individual-1 said he would not commit the murder himself, he knew a hitman who could get the job done, according to the criminal complaint.  Massarone allegedly agreed to wire Individual-1 in Guyana $2,500 as a down payment. The criminal complaint showed video surveillance photos of Massarone wiring the funds from a Walgreen’s Western Union kiosk in Orange County, N.Y., on July 21.

Although the criminal complaint did not specify a motive, the brother-in-law told law enforcement officials that he and Massarone had an ongoing civil litigation matter pending in New York.