A Philadelphia man has been convicted for conspiring to murder several government officials involved in his previous prosecution, according to an announcement from New Jersey Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin and the Division of Criminal Justice.
Stephen Smink, 62, was found guilty on August 15, 2025, of one count of conspiracy to commit murder and five counts of attempted murder, all first-degree offenses. He was also convicted on charges related to transporting weapons.
Attorney General Platkin said, “This defendant planned to kill public servants for doing their jobs and putting him behind bars for crimes he previously committed. State Police and prison officials found out about his plan and interceded before anyone was harmed. He now faces a lengthy prison sentence for his violent scheme.”
DCJ Director Theresa L. Hilton commented, “We are extremely proud that we obtained a guilty verdict against this violent offender. Protecting the public includes protecting the people who work every day to keep us all safe and hold criminals accountable.”
Colonel Patrick J. Callahan, Superintendent of the New Jersey State Police, stated, “This conviction sends a clear message: anyone who conspires to harm government officials will be brought to justice. The safety of those who serve the public is non-negotiable, and this outcome reflects the outstanding work of the detectives who pursued this case with unwavering commitment. Their efforts not only protected lives but also upheld the integrity of our democracy.”
Smink’s conviction stems from actions taken between January 2018 and December 2020 when he conspired with others to target Cumberland County Prosecutor Jennifer Webb-McRae, First Assistant Prosecutor Harold Shapiro, two Superior Court judges, and an assistant prosecutor—all connected to his earlier arson conviction in 2014. Smink had previously been sentenced to 15 years in state prison for orchestrating a plan to burn down a rival bowling alley while owning a southern New Jersey bowling alley at that time.
While serving his sentence at Northern State Prison in Newark in April 2019, authorities received information indicating that Smink had hired a cooperating witness as part of a murder-for-hire plot initiated in late 2017 and early 2018. The investigation revealed that Smink initially sought help from an imprisoned member of the Latin Kings gang; after that individual died before any act could be carried out, Smink engaged another person to locate a hitman. He oversaw payments through sports memorabilia transfers and directed his mother—now deceased—to assist by writing correspondence related to the plot.
During discussions with an undercover officer, Smink reportedly said: “If everybody was together, wipe the whole place out and kill everybody it just looks like somebody making an assault, a gangs meeting.” He added: “If somebody shot up the place it looks like the gang getting retribution.”
The trial took place before Atlantic County Superior Court Judge Joseph A. Levin following an investigation conducted by multiple agencies including the New Jersey State Police Central Intelligence Unit and Department of Corrections SID.
Smink faces at least 30 years before being eligible for parole under his sentence which ranges from 30 years to life imprisonment. The prosecution team included Assistant Attorney General Elizabeth Parvin as well as Deputy Attorneys General Veronica Daddario and Amie Hyde.
Sentencing is scheduled for September 26, 2025. Defense counsel is Durann A. Neil Esq., Philadelphia.
