Former New York Podiatrist Ira Bernstein Sentenced to Prison Following Second Alleged Murder-for-Hire Plot

Former podiatrist Ira Bernstein returns to prison in 2026 after pleading guilty to tampering with evidence in a second plot to kill his ex-wife, Susan Bernstein.

By: AXL Media

Published: Mar 14, 2026, 7:40 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from PEOPLE

Return to Incarceration for Former Medical Professional

The legal saga of a former Rockland County podiatrist reached a new milestone on March 6, 2026, as a state judge handed down a fresh prison sentence. Ira Bernstein, whose previous conviction for a 2016 murder plot garnered national attention, was ordered to serve between one and a half and three years in state prison. The current sentencing follows a 2023 indictment centered on charges of tampering with physical evidence. This latest development marks the second time the former podiatrist has been sent to prison for crimes targeting his former spouse, Susan Bernstein, following his initial release in 2021.

Allegations of a Second Assassination Attempt

The core of the recent criminal case involves a reported conversation between Bernstein and a landscaper that allegedly took place in late 2022. Prosecutors maintained that during this encounter, Bernstein engaged in discussions regarding a second attempt to have his ex-wife killed. The landscaper, who was reportedly involved in a civil dispute with Bernstein’s father at the time, recorded the interaction and subsequently provided the audio to law enforcement. This evidence became the catalyst for the evidence tampering charges, as Bernstein allegedly took steps to ensure the incriminating recording was destroyed before it could be utilized by authorities.

Guilty Plea and Defense Assertions

In August 2025, Bernstein entered a guilty plea to the tampering charge, acknowledging his efforts to interfere with the evidence. Despite the plea, his legal team argued that the conversation in question was orchestrated by the landscaper and did not constitute a formal solicitation of a crime. His attorney emphasized that while the tampering occurred, the underlying plot was not as substantiated as the prosecution claimed. Nevertheless, the court found the evidence of interference sufficient to warrant a return to the state correctional system, effectively ending Bernstein's period of freedom that lasted just over a year.