Rhode Island Sex offender indicted in murder-for-hire plot relating to 12-year-old girl

A federal grand jury indicted 28-year-old Chandler Cardente on enticement of a minor, committing a felony offense involving a minor while being a registered sex offender, and interstate murder-for-hire charges, according to a report.

Cardente tried to entice the girl and then plotted a scheme to kill her while he was in jail, federal prosecutors said.

Cardente, who has multiple convictions for sex crimes, began messaging the girl via social media in December 2021 while posing as a 17-year-old boy, according to a report.

The two had a sexual encounter, and Cardente was arrested, the report noted.

While in jail, he communicated with a person and displayed interest in having the girl murdered, federal prosecutors said.

She was a witness against him, so Cardente allegedly offered the person $1,500 in equipment and an extra $200 to have her killed.

The person posing as the hit man was really a Rhode Island State Police detective, who reportedly gave Cardente the opportunity to back out.

“I’m going to go to sleep at night so I’m fine with it,” Cardente allegedly said. “I just need it done before I get indicted.”