By Stephen Stirling
A Flushing man was sentenced to 20 years in prison Friday after pleading guilty to raping his ex-girlfriend and plotting her murder while in custody on Rikers Island, Queens District Attorney Richard Brown said.
Angel Lopez, 31, formerly of 45-33 162nd St., pleaded guilty to rape and conspiracy charges July 11 after he violently raped his Floral Park ex-girlfriend in November 2005, Brown said.
Months later, while in custody, Lopez attempted to hire a hitman to murder the woman to prevent her from testifying against him in court, the DA said.
“Fortunately, as the result of superb investigative work, his violent plot was thwarted,” Brown said. “The significant prison term imposed today will ensure that the defendant is held accountable for his senseless and brutal acts.”
Lopez was sentenced Friday in State Supreme Court in Kew Gardens by Judge Gregory Lasak, who ordered him to serve 20 years in state prison for his rape plea and a concurrent seven-to-14 year term for his conspiracy plea.
Brown said the 26-year-old victim ended her relationship with Lopez in October 2005. Just over three weeks later, Lopez came to her apartment in the middle of the night, woke her up and handcuffed her, Brown said.
The DA said Lopez sexually assaulted the woman, dragged her into the bathroom and threatened to drown her in the bathtub while holding a knife to her throat. Brown said the victim was raped again before Lopez fled with $700.
Arrested shortly after the incident while Lopez was being held in prison at Rikers Island, Brown said another inmate informed investigators that the 31-year-old hoped to hire a hitman to kill his ex-girlfriend to prevent her from testifying against him in a trial.
The DA said investigators set up a sting operation during which an undercover police officer posed as Lopez's cousin, who agreed to carry out the murder-for-hire plot.
Over the next several weeks, Lopez arranged for $1,000 to be paid to the officer, gave him a description of the victim's house and called the officer several times to see if the murder had been carried out, Brown said.
Reach reporter Stephen Stirling by e-mail at Sstirling@timesledger.com or by phone at 718-229-0300, ext. 138.
