S. Elgin woman accused of soliciting carjacking

A South Elgin woman is charged with soliciting a carjacking with the intent to harm her ex-husband and his new wife, authorities said.

Michelle Leigh Bertoncini, 39, was charged Tuesday with two counts of solicitation for aggravated vehicular hijacking with a firearm and two counts of solicitation for unlawful vehicular invasion, according to a news release from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

Authorities said in the release that Bertoncini on Monday took a motor vehicle with the use of force or by threatening the imminent use of force.

Bertoncini met with undercover ATF agents during the past few months, and asked for their help in injuring her ex-husband and his new wife in an attempt to regain custody of her children, the Chicago Tribune reported.

Bertoncini offered the undercover agents $1,200 to commit the carjacking and beating, but she never carried out the plan, ATF officials told the Tribune.

The ATF was the lead agency on the investigation involving the Elgin Police Department, Cook County Sheriff's Police, Chicago Police Department and the DuPage County Metropolitan Enforcement Group.

Bertoncini appeared in Kane County bond court Tuesday, where bail was set at $350,000. She remains in custody at the Kane County jail.

If convicted, Bertoncini faces up to 15 years in jail.

She is due in court again March 7.