Daniel Sikkema has been convicted of orchestrating a murder-for-hire plot that resulted in the death of his estranged husband, a prominent New York City art dealer, in Brazil.

Prosecutors argued that Sikkema, who is in his mid-50s, was financially distressed and devised the murder scheme as part of a desperate attempt to obtain money. The plot unfolded while Sikkema was engaged in a contentious divorce and custody battle over the couple's young son.

The victim was described as a well-known figure in New York City's art dealing community. The murder took place in Brazil, though specific details about the location and circumstances of the killing were not provided in court proceedings.

The case centered on allegations that Sikkema hired a hitman to carry out the murder of his estranged spouse. The motive, according to prosecutors, was financial gain amid mounting pressures from the ongoing divorce proceedings and custody dispute.

The conviction represents the conclusion of a complex international case involving the murder of a prominent member of New York's art community. The case highlighted the intersection of personal financial difficulties and domestic disputes that prosecutors said led to the fatal plot.