Maricela Argica

‘An Aurora woman has been convicted for soliciting the murder of her former boyfriend.

Maricela Argica, 27, of the 1200 block of Coventry Park, Aurora, was convicted Thursday by a Kane County jury of solicitation for murder for hire, and solicitation of murder, each a Class X felony.

On Sept. 22, 2010, Arciga told an acquaintance that she wanted someone to kill her ex-boyfriend. The acquaintance shared that information with the Aurora Police Department. APD investigators facilitated a meeting on Sept. 26, 2010, between Arciga and an undercover law-enforcement agent with the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

During the meeting, Arciga told the agent that she wanted the victim shot to death, and paid him $200. During the next several days, Arciga and the agent had multiple telephone conversations during which they continued to discuss details of Arciga’s plan. Arciga and the agent met again face to face on Oct. 4, 2010. During that meeting, the agent confirmed that Arciga wanted the victim murdered, and Arciga agreed to pay the agent an additional $1,800 over the next two months.

After the meeting, Arciga left and was immediately stopped and arrested by Aurora police. During her interview with police, Arciga acknowledged that she tried to arrange for the ex-boyfriend to be murdered.

Circuit Judge Susan Clancy Boles set Arciga’s next court appearance for 1:30 p.m. Oct. 23, 2014, for motions and sentencing. Arciga will be sentenced to between 20 and 60 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections.

Arciga remains in custody at the Kane County jail, where she had been held since her arrest in lieu of $750,000 bail. Bond was revoked upon conviction.

“We appreciate that the jury saw through Miss Arciga’s claims of entrapment, as well as her claim that she didn’t really intend to have the victim killed. Thanks to the Aurora Police Department and to ATF for their hard work on this case, and thanks to Kane County Assistant State’s Attorneys Kelly Orland and Vincent Coyle, who prosecuted this case,” Kane County State’s Attorney Joe McMahon said.

SOURCE: Kane County State’s Attorney’s Office press release