A federal judge has sentenced Jamie and Nicholas Orsini to life in prison for the murder and carjacking of Jamie Orsini’s ex-husband, Steven Kraft, federal prosecutors announced this week.
U.S. District Judge Philip M. Halpern sentenced Jamie Orsini on August 11, 2026, and Nicholas Orsini on August 13, 2026. Both defendants were convicted following a two-week trial in 2024 on one count of carjacking resulting in death and one count of conspiracy to commit carjacking.
The sentences were announced jointly by Jamie McDonald, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York; James C. Barnacle, Jr., Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI’s New York Field Office; and Steven G. James, Superintendent of the New York State Police.
According to court filings and evidence presented at trial, the Orsinis spent weeks planning the killing and an elaborate cover-up. Leading up to the crime, the pair bought supplies, including a 1,000-square-foot tarp and full-body coveralls, conducted practice runs for moving Kraft’s vehicle, and purchased untraceable burner phones.
On April 28, 2020, Kraft drove to the Orsinis’ home in Beacon, New York, to drop off his two children. Investigators proved the Orsinis killed Kraft inside the home and took his vehicle and phone.
To mislead investigators into believing Kraft had left safely, Nicholas Orsini drove Kraft’s car to a neighborhood in Newburgh, New York, and abandoned it. He then disposed of Kraft’s phone and used a burner phone to call a taxi back to Beacon, discarding the burner phone before getting into the cab. While Nicholas Orsini was away, Jamie Orsini sent texts between her phone and his device—which he had left at the house—to stage a digital alibi.
In the days following the murder, the Orsinis traveled back and forth to upstate New York and built large homemade incinerators to destroy evidence, including Kraft’s body, which has never been recovered. Jamie Orsini also sent staged text messages pretending she believed Kraft was still alive and later suggested to police that something may have happened to him in Newburgh.
“Justice has now been served in this tragic case,” U.S. Attorney Jamie McDonald said. “In 2020, Jamie and Nicholas Orsini orchestrated a sophisticated scheme to kill Jamie Orsini’s ex-husband, Steven Kraft, and cover up their crime. Their actions took a life, devastated a family, and left behind years of unanswered questions. Kraft’s body has never been found, and for years, his family has been forced to live with the unimaginable pain and uncertainty of not knowing what happened to their loved one. While no sentence can undo the loss of a life or erase the suffering endured by Kraft’s family, these sentences bring the Kraft family a measure of finality and hold Jamie and Nicholas Orsini accountable for their horrific crimes.”
FBI Assistant Director in Charge James C. Barnacle, Jr. credited the investigation to the FBI Hudson Valley Safe Streets Task Force along with local and state agencies.
“The actions taken by Jamie and Nicholas Orsini that resulted in the death of Steven Kraft are a tragic and senseless crime,” Barnacle said. “Our hearts remain with the victims and their families as they confront this profound loss. The FBI is steadfast in its commitment to pursuing violent crime investigations and will continue working closely with the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York.”
New York State Police Superintendent Steven G. James added that the outcome ensures long-term public safety.
“This week’s sentencings send a strong message that prison is the only future for those who take the lives of others,” James said. “We hope these sentencings bring a sense of closure that the defendants will never commit a heinous crime like this again. I commend the dedication of our members, partners at the US Attorney’s Office, and law enforcement colleagues for the justice served in this case.”
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