A Brazilian au pair was sentenced on Friday to ten years in prison after pleading guilty to a conspiracy related to the murders of former IRS agent Brendan Banfield’s wife and another man.
Juliana Pérez Magalhães accepted a plea deal in 2024, admitting to a lesser charge of manslaughter. Despite her strong testimony against Banfield during his trial, which ultimately saw him convicted for the murders of his wife Christine, 37, and Joseph Ryan, 38, who had sought to engage with him, she received a significant prison term.
Judge Penny Azcarate characterized the situation as “the most serious manslaughter scenario” the court had ever encountered, giving Magalhães, who is 25, a ten-year sentence, two of which will be served in suspension, according to reports.
During the trial, Magalhães recounted how Banfield, 40, orchestrated the plan to kill his wife after they began an affair, while she was also living in their Virginia home to care for their daughter.
They created a fake online account where Ryan was lured with promises of helping Christine fulfill her fantasies, as jurors heard.
Ryan arrived at the Banfields’ residence armed with a knife, under the impression he was participating in a consensual encounter, while Christine, a former nurse for sexual assault victims, was unaware. Magalhães remained in a car outside, calling Banfield to alert him about an “intruder,” but prosecutors argued this was all part of the setup.
Banfield burst into the house, abandoned his daughter in the basement, and shot Ryan with his service weapon, attempting to portray himself as a hero who had saved his wife.
He then stabbed Christine multiple times in the neck, attempting to blame Ryan for her death, according to Magalhães’ testimony.
Magalhães had hoped for a more lenient sentence in exchange for her plea and cooperation.
