A 28-year-old New Jersey woman, Diiorio, is facing federal charges following an alleged attempt to hire a hitman to kill her former partner and his teenage daughter. the scheme, which reportedly involved a $12,000 offer, unraveed when the suspect met with a confidential informant in Gloucester Township.
The $12,000 price tag on a Philadelphia officer's life
The alleged murder-for-hire scheme targeted a 53-year-old Philadelphia police officer and his 19-year-old daughter. According to the U.S . Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, Diiorio allegedly offered a total of $12,000 to have the father and daughter killed.
As reported in the source, Diiorio reportedly provided a $500 cash down payment to an individual she believed would act as a hitman. This individual was actually a confidential informant working with law enforcement, a move that ultimately exposed the planned violence.
A Tinder-based sting in Gloucester Township
The Upper Dublin Police Department first became aware of the potential plot when a man visited their office on Tuesday, February 10. This man, who was actually a Tinder user acting as a confidential informant, sought assistance regarding the request made by Eric Berkowitz.
The investigation reached a critical point on April 4, 2025, when Diiorio allegedly met with the informant in Gloucester Township to facilitate the transaction.. This meeting allowed authorities to move from initial suspicion to a formal investigation into the planned killings.
The shift from state murder charges to federal interstate commerce counts
Federal prosecutors have now escalated the case from state-level charges to a federal indictment. While Diiorio was previously arretsed on state charges, including two counts of first-degree attempted murder, she now faces two counts of using interstate commerce facilities to commit a murder-for-hire.
The indictment specifically alleges that between March 30, 2025, and April 5, 2025, Diiorio used a cellular phone to orchestrate the murders across the Eastern District of Pennsylvania and the District of New Jersey. This use of mobile technology provides the legal basis for the federal charges brought by the U.S. Attorney's Office.
This case mirrors other recent instances of digital-age violence, such as the January arrest in Murrieta, California, where Ignacia Cadaos Perkins was accused of paying a hitman to kill Aaron Parr. Authorities suggest that such cases highlight the increasing dangers of using internet-based platforms to organize violent crimes.
Who else was involved in Diiorio's digital conspiracy?
The Upper Dublin Police Department is continuing its investigation to determine if other individuals played a role in the alleged plot. While the indictment focuses on Diiorio's use of a phone to coordinate the crime, it remains unclear how many other people may have been involved in the conspiracy.
Diiorio's attorney stated that she intends to plead not guilty when she appears in federal court for her upcoming detention hearing. As the investigation proceeds, officials are working to identify any additional participants who may have been part of the communication chain.
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