Timonium Man Pleads Guilty To Federal Murder-For-Hire Charges

BALTIMORE (WJZ) — The U.S. Attorney’s Office for Maryland announced connected Friday that a Baltimore County antheral has pleaded blameworthy to national charges for a murder-for-hire conspiracy and extortion.

According to prosecutors, 62-year-old Robert Mercaldo Jr. of Timonium loaned a Baltimore County edifice proprietor much than $1 cardinal betwixt 2008 and 2017. When the proprietor stopped making payments successful 2019, Mercaldo hired different antheral to smash the windows of the edifice owner’s car and pain his house. They aboriginal plotted to termination him.

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During an April 2019 interrogation with Baltimore County police, Mercaldo claimed helium was besides being threatened and said helium got the wealth helium loaned to the unfortunate from a Michigan man. He besides told investigators the windows connected his Mercedes had been smashed but didn’t study the incidental to police.

In August 2019, the co-conspirator acceptable the restauranteur’s location connected fire, causing much than $302,000 successful damages. The antheral and his woman were capable to flight with the household cat.

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Mercaldo and his accomplice aboriginal began discussing a crippled to execution the edifice owner. Authorities said successful November of 2019, helium texted his co-conspirator, “Nail em plz !!”

The co-conspirator surveilled the restauranteur’s businesses and residence — taking pictures and videos. In 2 of the videos, helium filmed himself holding 2 antithetic handguns successful his vehicle.

Mercaldo and the co-conspirator continued conversations astir the edifice proprietor and his indebtedness up until May 2020. He was arrested successful June of that twelvemonth and indicted successful September.

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Mercaldo faces a maximum condemnation of 10 years successful national situation for the murder-for-hire conspiracy and a maximum of 20 years for extortion. Sentencing is scheduled for Sept. 28.

CBS Baltimore Staff