By Matthew Monks
Jed Kass, 42, of 89-40 1551st Ave. in Howard Beach, was in jail on Rikers Island on grand larceny charges in 2002 when he arranged a contract with two undercover officers to murder his colleagues at Koeppel Mazda and Hyundai at 43-43 Northern Blvd. in Long Island City, the DA said. Kass was fired and charged with grand larceny on Nov. 14, 2002 after a car dealership audit discovered $50,000 missing, Brown said. He added that detectives learned the former general sales manager – who Newsday reported allegedly pilfered from his job to fuel an out-of-control gambling addiction – was cooking a murder plot while jailed on $100,000 bail. On Jan. 6, 2003, Kass spoke over the phone with an undercover New York Police Department officer who said he could arrange the double homicide of the former colleagues he thought would be witnesses in the pending embezzlement case, Brown said. Three days later, Kass met with another undercover detective at Rikers, giving him detailed information about his targets' names, favorite hangouts, work hours and vehicle descriptions, Brown said. The defendant was convicted of promising to pay $20,000 for the murder of two co-workers,” the DA said in a statement. “Fortunately, the plot was thwarted and the defendant has now been sent to prison.”A jury convicted Kass of conspiracy and criminal solicitation on Nov. 8, 2004. Judge Mark Spires sentenced him to 10 to 20 years in prison Friday in Queens Criminal Court.The embezzlement case is pending, Brown said. Reach reporter Matthew Monks by e-mail at news@timesledger.com or by phone at 718-229-0300, Ext. 156.
