A Kansas man has pleaded not guilty to charges that he tried to hire a man to kill his wife.

37-year-old Lee D. Smith of Basehor entered the plea Thursday in federal court in Kansas City, Mo.

Prosecutors allege Smith agreed to pay a man $1,800 to murder Smith’s wife. They say Smith drove the man in May to an office in Overland Park where his wife worked to plan the murder.

The Lawrence Journal-World reports the man was a confidential law enforcement informant and Smith’s wife was never in danger.

A motive for the alleged plot has never been disclosed but court records show the couple had financial problems.

Smith remains in custody. A judge in May declined to set bail.