A judge has sentenced a New Jersey man to life in prison for having a woman killed to keep her from testifying against him.

Rafael Olmo was convicted in March of hiring a man to kill 29-year-old Deanna Downs of Egg Harbor City. The mother of two had gone to police about a deadly shooting at the apartment where she lived.

Downs was found shot in the head outside her apartment in 2010.

The Press of Atlantic City reports Olmo read a statement in court in which he denied having Downs killed.

The 31-year-old said he was set up to be a fall guy based on his reputation.

The man accused of shooting Downs was cleared of being the killer, but was convicted of conspiracy to commit murder.