Post-verdict issue in Susan Williams trial

On the same day that former Rockville Centre resident Susan Williams was found guilty of hiring a “hit man” to kill her estranged husband — Nov. 15 — Frank Trapani, the 22-year-old boyfriend of Williams’s oldest daughter Alexis, was arrested in Island Park and charged with jury tampering after he reportedly made inappropriate contact with a juror hearing the case.

On Nov. 12, Judge Norman St. George revealed that a juror in the Williams trial had been excused and replaced with an alternate. And although the judge never disclosed any specific reason for the change, it was discovered days later that the dismissed juror was a surfing friend of Trapani’s.

According to sources, Trapani had apparently called the juror and tried to sway him in his decision-making, telling him that Williams had been “set up.”

Trapani, who lives in Atlantic Beach, received a desk appearance ticket for his offense and was arraigned Nov. 16 at the Nassau County District Courthouse.

On Tuesday, he reappeared in court and was released on his own recognizance.

He is expected to appear in court again on Jan. 11 for an additional hearing.