Food Network Star Convicted of Hiring Homeless Men to Kill His Wife for $500

By Ily Goyanes Tue., Dec. 14 2010 at 12:14 PM

Categories: Food News, Television Chefs

via Flickr ronnie44052

Juan-Carlos's new farmer's market?

This morning, when I first heard that a Food Network star had been arrested and sentenced to jail, I figured that either Rachael Ray or Guy Fieri had finally been charged with prostitution. Instead I find out that the crime is much more severe and that the passion it takes to make a great chef can also turn a rising star into a convicted murderer.

Juan-Carlos Cruz, who rose to celebrity chef status as host of the Food Network show, Calorie Commando, has just been sentenced to nine years in prison for hatching a murder-for-hire plot against his wife, attorney Jennifer Campbell.

Cruz was arrested earlier this year when a homeless man told police Cruz had attempted to pay him $500 to murder Campbell. The cops then set up a videotaped sting and caught the shifty chef making arrangements for his wife's demise.

Campbell was unharmed and sat in the front row of the courtroom during the trial. Cruz pleaded no contest and will probably only serve half of his nine-year sentence.

*TMZ reports that the first of the homeless men to turn Cruz in, died of a brain hemorrhage months ago.