North Jersey Political Murder Mystery Has New Twists: 2 Sentencings Scheduled

NORTH JERSEY — After former New Jersey political consultant Sean Caddle — who'd worked for prominent State Sen. Ray Lesniak, among others — pleaded guilty a year ago to hiring two men to kill a state senator's son back in 2014, a big question remains: Why?

There has been speculation about his motive since the January 2022 guilty plea, but no one — especially Caddle, who remains on house arrest in Sussex County — has explained why he hired two men to kill Michael Galdieri in his Jersey City apartment in May 2014.

Calddle and Galdieri had once been partners in a political consulting business.

Speculation has arisen again following a few recent twists.

This past Thursday, Bomani Africa, one of the two men hired to kill Galdieri, appeared in court in Connecticut to be sentenced in two bank robberies in late 2014, the Associated Press reported.

Africa said, before being sentenced to 10 years in prison, that he wouldn't commit any more crimes. According to the AP, he said nothing about the Galdieri killing, although the judge alluded to it briefly.

Africa may have a chance to say more this week.

Africa and the other hired man, George Bratsenis, are scheduled to be sentenced in the killing this Thursday, reports say. Meanwhile, Caddle will be sentenced next month, the story says.

'Cooperating Witness'

Caddle's house arrest last year led many to speculate about whether he's been acting as an informant about other New Jersey political crimes.

Last month, NJ.com reported that Caddle said in a recent document that he is, in fact, a "cooperating witness" with the U.S. Attorney's Office. The matter came to light because he faces eviction from his rented condo in Sussex County, the outlet reported.

Some wonder if he has information on another crime: The September 2014 case in which former New Jersey Transportation Commissioner John Sheridan and his wife were found dead in their Montgomery Township home. Officials at first said the evidence indicated a murder suicide, then backed off this claim. The deaths remain unsolved, and the family has pressed for answers.

The guilty plea by Caddle last year led some to speculate on the Sheridan killings because the manner of death was similar to the killing of Michael Galdieri four months earlier.

Guilty Pleas

Michael Galdieri's father, State Sen. James Galdieri, was well known in New Jersey politics and had served as an attorney to the Hoboken and Jersey City Housing Authorities at various points. He was found stabbed to death in his Jersey City home on May 22, 2014, and the apartment was on fire.

Both Bonami Africa and George Bratsenis, who'd met in prison, pleaded guilty in early 2022 to their role in that crime.

The New Jersey Globe reported Wednesday that prosecutors are seeking sentences of more than 10 years for each man.

Read earlier reporting about Michael Galdieri, Sean Caddle, and John Sheridan here.