BRONX – A man in a pending rape case has been charged with conspiring to have two witnesses in the case murdered.

Anthony Perez, 41, of 1735 Davidson Avenue, the Bronx, was arrested at a detention facility on Rikers Island following a seven month investigation by the Bronx District Attorney’s Office and the New York City Police Department. 

He was charged with two counts of Conspiracy in the second degree, two counts of Criminal Facilitation in the second degree, and two counts of Criminal Solicitation in the second degree. 

Perez was arraigned before State Supreme Court Justice John Moore who ordered that the defendant be remanded on these new charges. Conspiracy in the second degree, the top charge in this indictment, is punishable by up to a maximum sentence of up to 25 years imprisonment on each count.

Perez allegedly agreed to pay an undercover detective whom he believed to be a killer for hire, $100,000 to kill the woman he is accused of raping and a second witness who was in the apartment when the alleged sex crime occurred in April 2006. 

According to court papers, Perez contracted the “hits” on October 7, 2008 at a face to face meeting with the undercover detective, while being detained at the city jail on Rikers Island.  In addition to negotiating the fee for eliminating the witnesses, Perez also allegedly provided the name and address of one of the women and devised a plan to lure the second intended victim to the first woman’s apartment.

It is further alleged in court papers that on February 13, 2009, the defendant had a second meeting with the purported “hitman” during which he discussed possible ways the killings could be carried out and made to look like the result of a robbery. The defendant also discussed making arrangements for a subsequent meeting with a third party, Tawana Leggett, who allegedly provided the undercover detective with a gun. That meeting took place on February 23, 2009 in Brooklyn where Leggett has been charged with criminal possession of a weapon.

According to the criminal complaint filed with the court, Perez’ final contact with the undercover detective occurred by telephone on February 25, 2009 at which time the undercover was instructed to call Leggett use the code “get your suit and shoelaces ready” to let her know that the job was done.