CHICAGO – A former Chicago police officer who spent years on death row before his murder conviction was overturned has been charged with plotting to abduct, extort, kill and dismember someone he believed had access to a large amount of money, federal authorities said Friday.

Steven Mandell, who was known as Steven Manning when he was convicted in 1993 in the slaying of a trucking firm owner, is accused along with former Willow Springs police officer Gary Engel. Authorities allege the two had outfitted an office with a deep sink and other items to allow them to dismember the victim.

According to a news release from the U.S. attorney’s office in Chicago, Mandell and Engel, both 61, were arrested Thursday night after they had driven to the area of the planned abduction of the person, whom authorities did not identify.