Woman Admits Trying To Kill Husband She Married To Become Citizen

NEW ROCHELLE, NY — A Jamaican woman who married a New Rochelle senior in order to illegally become a citizen pleaded guilty Monday to trying to kill the man.

Westchester County District Attorney Miriam Rocah said Olivia Raimo, 30, pleaded guilty to second-degree attempted murder, a felony.

According to the plea agreement, she will be sentenced to 15 years in state prison, with five years of post-release supervision.

Prosecutors said, on Jan. 24, 2020, while in the victim's New Rochelle home, Raimo pushed the 74-year-old man, wedging him between the toilet seat and a wall, and then slit his wrist with a straight razor.

The man's home health aide arrived at the home during the incident but was refused entry by Raimo. The aide, who didn't know or recognize Raimo, called the New Rochelle Police Department.

The police entered the home after hearing the man screaming from the bathroom.

He was taken to Jacobi Hospital in the Bronx, where he underwent two surgeries to reattach the tendons in his arm. The attack resulted in the man losing all function in his hand.

Authorities said the incident happened after Raimo and the man, who married in 2017, met with an attorney to prepare for an interview with the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services to demonstrate their marriage was legitimate. During the meeting, they were informed they would have a hard time passing their marriage interview.

Raimo was arrested by New Rochelle police Feb. 11, 2020, following an investigation.

Rocah said her office will continue to work with law enforcement to pursue justice for all vulnerable victims of crime.

"Violent acts are particularly heinous when they target the elderly," she said.

Raimo is scheduled to be sentenced Jan. 13.