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'Calorie Commando' Chef Gets 9 Years For Soliciting Wife's Murder

LOS ANGELES (CBS) — A former Food Network chef was sentenced Monday to nine years in prison for soliciting two homeless men to kill his wife.

Los Angeles County prosecutors say 48-year-old Juan Carlos Cruz faces up to nine years in state prison.

The former "Calorie Commando" TV chef pleaded no contest Oct. 26 to charges that he hired homeless men to kill his wife. A count of attempted murder will be dismissed.

Cruz was arrested in May by Santa Monica police after a homeless man reported being offered $500 to kill his wife Jennifer L. Campbell, a 47-year-old attorney.

Police say they set up a sting operation and videotaped Cruz arranging the killing with several homeless men.

Cruz hosted the "Calorie Commando" show on the Food Network that ended four years ago.

He also published a cookbook.

(TM and © Copyright 2010 CBS Local Media, a division of CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2010 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

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