A New York man convicted of flying to Miami and driving a would-be hitman to kill a high-profile car designer learned his fate Monday as the “architect” of the failed murder plot.
Jamie Serrano, 46, was sentenced to 50 years in federal prison for plotting to murder Alex Vega in August 2019, according to the Department of Justice.
Serrano is the second man sentenced for his role in the brazen shooting.
The gunman, Julián Jiménez, 27, was sentenced to 35 years in federal prison on Nov. 3 for shooting Vega three times while he was putting his black Range Rover into his garage.
Serrano, the mastermind behind the hit gone wrong, had rented a vehicle after arriving in Florida on August 21, 2019, to conceal his surveillance of the victim as he observed his target for four days.
Julián Jiménez is seen sneaking up behind Vega as he puts his black Range Rover into his garage.
On August 27, the day of the shooting, Serrano traded in his rental vehicle for a new one and then drove Jimenez to the Kendall de Vega neighborhood, the Justice Department shared.
Jimenez, who donned a surgical mask and gloves while holding a firearm, ran after Vega as he entered his garage and opened fire, intending to kill the car’s designer.
The hitman fired eight bullets at the victim, hitting him three times, then fled the scene, where he ran back to Serrano’s parked car and jumped into the trunk of the rental vehicle as both men escaped.
Vega needed surgery to remove the projectiles that remained inside his body, the Justice Department reported.
Jiménez fires eight shots at the car, hitting Vega three times before fleeing.
Both men were arrested in August 2022 for the failed hit.
Although Serrano was not the shooter, the jury determined that he played a crucial role in carrying out the near-fatal hit because he bought the plane tickets from New York to Miami, rented the cars and obtained the .40 caliber pistol that Jiménez used to shoot. Vega.
During the two-week trial, Judge Roy Altman had repeatedly referred to Serrano as “the architect” of the plot to kill Vega, according to the Miami Herald.
The judge also said during the trial that Serrano was “connected to the people who wanted Mr. Vega dead.”
Alex Vega (left) with soccer icon David Beckham.Instagram /theautofirm Vega with Olympic gold medalist Usain Bolt after customizing a Jeep for the fastest man alive.Instagram /theautofirm
The two culprits have not revealed why or who sanctioned the hit on Vega.
A witness allegedly told the FBI that both men were offered $60,000 to carry out the hit, although that has not been confirmed, according to the Herald.
Vega, a prominent owner of a body shop in South Florida, has a client list that includes stars such as Marc Anthony, Shakira, legendary soccer player David Beckham, Olympic gold medalist Usain Bolt, Floyd Mayweather and the MLB stars David Ortiz and Vladimir Guerrero Jr.
Would-be assassin Jimenez’s father, Marcos, is one of Marc Anthony’s sound engineers and occasional property managers, according to court documents obtained by the outlet.
Vega (left) with singer Marc Anthony.Instagram /theautofirm Vega with boxing legend Floyd Mayweather.Instagram /theautofirm
Anthony, who is not suspected of being involved in the crime, has become close friends with Vega after renovating several of the music star’s cars in recent years.
Serrano has also ventured into the music industry, representing and marketing various artists, according to the outlet.
“If I could go back in time, I would,” Serrano told Altman during Tuesday’s sentencing.
Both men will serve five years of supervised release after serving their sentences.
Vega was present at Tuesday’s hearing and even spoke briefly before the sentencing, demanding that Serrano receive the maximum sentence legally allowed, sharing that the ordeal has not only injured him physically, but that he and his family have been living in fear. since the shooting. , and they need a bodyguard when they leave the house.
“I want this guy to see his last day in a cell,” Vega told the judge.
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Source: vtt.edu.vn