Cops: Edward Graziano Offered to Pay for His Wife's Murder With a Gift Card

You can't make this stuff up. And people need to quit watch so many movies.

Edward Graziano, the father of John Graziano who was injured in a car crash with Nick Bollea in August 2007, has been charged with trying to arrange for the murder of his estranged wife.

Graziano, 53, was arrested after he held several meetings with an undercover detective who was posing as a go-between for a hit man Graziano wanted to hire to kill Debra Graziano, the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office said.

The investigation began in mid-December when the sheriff's office received a tip that Graziano wanted to arrange for the murder of his estranged wife, detectives said. Detectives arranged for meetings between Graziano, the tipster and an undercover agent at various places including shopping malls, a hospital and a gas station in Pinellas and Hillsborough counties.

During the meetings, Graziano said he wanted to have Debra Graziano killed by having her involved in an automobile accident and provided her schedule so the "hit man" could arrange the murder and ensure Graziano had an alibi, detectives said.

Authorities met with Debra Graziano and her attorney, George Tragos, to inform them of the threat.

Earlier this week, Graziano paid $1,100 in cash, wrote a personal check for $1,000 and gave a gift card for $13.06 to Westshore Pizza in order to have the crime committed, detectives said.

Investigators say Graziano wanted to have the murder committed to solve several divorce-related financial issues. He was arrested at 11 a.m. at his home yesterday.



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