NEW CITY, NY— Former Podiatrist Ira Bernstein, 51 of Montebello was sentenced to state prison after pleading guilty to tampering with physical evidence connected to an audio recording that authorities say contained a solicitation to have his former wife killed.
Thomas E. Walsh II, Rockland County District Attorney, announced that Bernstein was sentenced to 1½ to 3 years in state prison in Rockland County Court before Judge Robert Prisco.
Bernstein pleaded guilty Aug. 25, 2025, to tampering with physical evidence. He had previously been convicted of conspiracy in the second degree in January 2017, according to prosecutors.
Authorities said that between Aug. 4 and Sept. 21, 2022, Bernstein believed an audio recording of a conversation between himself and another individual was about to be produced or used in an official or prospective legal proceeding. Prosecutors said he attempted to prevent the recording from being used by concealing, altering or destroying it, or by employing deception.
According to investigators, the recording captured a conversation in which Bernstein allegedly solicited another person to kill his ex-wife, Susan Bernstein.
“It’s our sincere hope that this sentence sends a message loud and clear throughout this county and this state that domestic violence in any form — physical, psychological, legal or otherwise — will not be tolerated,” Walsh said in a statement announcing the sentence. “It must be stopped, and we are glad that the defendant was held accountable today for his actions.”
The investigation was conducted by the Ramapo Police Department with assistance from detectives assigned to the Rockland County District Attorney’s Office.
The case was prosecuted by Executive Assistant District Attorney Kristin Tirino, Deputy Chief Assistant District Attorney Dominic Crispino and Executive Assistant District Attorney James Dolan.