By Missy Diaz
Sun-Sentinel.com
June 11, 2007, 4:23 PM EDT
WEST PALM BEACH -- A Wellington drug runner who tried hiring a hitman to kill his wife to avoid a $2.5 million divorce settlement will spend 15 years in prison for his crimes.
Glenn Sandler, 54, who owns the popular Gourmet Deli House west of Lake Worth, pleaded guilty Monday to cocaine trafficking and solicitation to commit murder.
As part of his plea agreement, Sandler was ordered by Circuit Judge Edward Garrison to pay a $250,000 fine and to forfeit his four-seater Mooney M20J airplane and a motorcycle. In exchange for the plea, Prosecutor Caroline Shepherd dismissed a third count, attempted first-degree murder. He will receive credit for 580 days he has already spent in jail. In September, Sandler's attorney, Richard Lubin, filed a motion to rely on an insanity defense at trial. As a result of a psychotic disorder, Sandler didn't know what he was doing or comprehend the consequences of his actions when he offered an undercover deputy $25,000 to kill Betty Sandler in October 2005, according to Lubin's motion.
In the midst of a contentious divorce, Sandler met with what he thought was an assassin to eliminate his wife. He told the undercover that he had previously tried to hire someone else for the job but that the man ran off with the money.
Sandler gave the purported hitman Betty Sandler's description and address as well as information about her daily routine. Betty Sandler was notified of her husband's plan.
At the same meeting, Glenn Sandler, according to police, bragged about flying drugs from Colombia to Miami. The deputy asked him to fly 11 pounds of cocaine from Lantana to Sebring, which Sandler did. The following day, the deputy brought Sandler keys and a cell phone belonging to Betty Sandler as proof the killing had taken place. Sandler was arrested in the Home Depot parking lot in Greenacres.
Lubin said Monday that his client pleaded guilty because he is guilty, and that while mental health experts concurred about Sandler's mental state at the time, waging an insanity defense is a risky proposition.
Betty Sandler attended Monday's hearing but declined to comment afterward. Citing safety concerns, she asked that Sandler not be placed in a South Florida prison, but the request was denied.
The judge agreed to delay sending Sandler to the Department of Corrections for 30 days because of his mother's poor health. He's had his own share of misfortunes since his incarceration, including the deaths of his father and his 22-year-old son, who died in a motorcycle accident in January 2006.
Missy Diaz can be reached at mdiaz@sun-sentinel.com or 561-228-5505.
Monday, June 11, 2007
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10 comments:
yep thats my old boss... what an asshole he was... everyone that worked for him was the least bit surprised about this.. and nobody is upset about his sentence,, most of us think he deserved more...
I feek horrible for Glenns mistake and actions! He always treated me well and I hope redemption comes to him. His surviving son is a blessed person. He made a mistake due to drug addiction and maybe caused a slight personality disorder. I love Glenn and his family hope fr the best for them all.
What a looser! I knew this asshole also, and he was an arrogant sob. I never did like him, there was just this really bad feeling I got being around him, I always knew something was not right. He got what he deserves! Betty is a lovely woman who deserves so much more! What kind of sorry ass would try to kill someone over money, that says it all about his character! Keep him locked up forever!
LOSER HOTHEAD WEIRD ANAL knew this man and wife. the wife was not all that innocent. she knew about the drugs cash money lifesyle. they BOTH were drinkers, drugs, bad, cruel parents especially to geoff. FEEL SORRY FOR THE SON THAT WAS LEFT BEHIND.
Betty was never a bad parent to Geoff! Or to Greg. You obviously have no idea what you are talking about... Geoff loved and counted on his mother more than anyone... Shame on you!
his son is a strong person and is going to be a great success.. back off this family. he was thseowner and you worked for him. dont forget that.
This is my family you are all talking about here. BACK OFF. You worked for him. He gave you a damn job. The majority of people that worked at the Deli were all drug addicts and criminals anyway so dont be such a damn hypocrite.
I went to high school with Glen, nothing in his past could have foretold such a tragic end game, thankfully no one was harmed in the plot,Glen now has ample time on his hands to figure out where his life veered from the straight and narrow
funny...I worked for Glenn from 1990 to 1999...not all of the employers were drug addicts...but a lot of us did party..we were very responsible..but having a bar next door didn't help...I was one of those partyers...best but worst days of my life...good people ..we were working at the old store..smaller store..it was like family..i worked breakest lunch and dinner..best money in town for the hours...yea ..even bing in my 40's I was pretty bad in the party world...a lot of us were..cocaine was the choice..i never knew big Glenn did all that stuff...I moved up to upstate NY ..where im from...in 2007 ..which probably saved my life...florida was a ruff place to live if you were in that party life..restraint bar life...but thank the Lord ..I grew up ...before it took my life..the deli house was such a fun place to work...we all loved each other...mom..Doreen ..rip..big Glenn little Glenn...richy...semese passed away..desty still works there I suppose...he was our busboy..always tipped him 20.00 a nite..I always made over 100.00 in 4 hours...glenn was strange..but he did have a warm heart..until he got selfish and greedy.. guess he should be out soon....thank god Betty is ok..i knew the boys when they were very young...
Great place, good people. Such a shame what drugs can do to people.
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