CNN
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A Tennessee Air Nationwide Guardsman is going through fees after making use of to be a hitman on a spoof “rent-a-hitman” web site, in keeping with the Division of Justice.
Josiah Ernesto Garcia, 21, was charged Thursday after submitting an employment inquiry to the web site rentahitman.com, which is a parody website that features “testimonials” from purportedly happy hit-man prospects.
The web site was initially created in 2005 to “promote a cyber safety startup firm,” the Justice Division stated in a news release. “The corporate failed and over the following decade it obtained many inquiries about murder-for-hire companies.”
Garcia indicated in February that he had “navy expertise, and rifle experience” and requested an “in depth job description,” in keeping with a felony criticism filed Thursday.
“Garcia adopted up on this preliminary request and submitted different identification paperwork and a resume, indicating he was an knowledgeable marksman and employed within the Air Nationwide Guard since July 2021. The resume additionally indicated that Garcia was nicknamed “Reaper,” which was earned from his navy expertise and marksmanship, the Division of Justice stated within the information launch.
Garcia despatched one other follow-up e-mail days later, saying he didn’t hear again after submitting a resume, in keeping with the criticism.
Based on investigators, Garcia wrote within the e-mail, “Why I need this Job* Im searching for a job, that pays properly, associated to my navy expertise (Taking pictures and Killing the marked goal) so I can help my child on the best way. What can I say, I take pleasure in doing what I do, so if I can discover a job that’s just like it, (comparable to this one) put me in coach!”
After Garcia despatched extra follow-up emails, the web site proprietor – on the path of the FBI – responded with an e-mail saying, “Josiah, a Discipline Coordinator might be in contact within the close to future. You’ll obtain a message when they’re prepared. Timing relies on shopper wants,” in keeping with the criticism.
On April 5, an FBI secret agent contacted Garcia for a cellphone interview, throughout which he requested, “How quickly can I begin?” and “What do the funds seem like?” in keeping with the criticism.
The secret agent requested Garcia if he was snug with taking fingers or ears as trophies or performing torture at a shopper’s request.
“If it’s attainable and in my means to take action, I’m greater than succesful,” Garcia stated, in keeping with the criticism.
In an in-person assembly with the secret agent on Wednesday, Garcia “was introduced with a ‘goal package deal’ consisting of images and an outline of a fictional goal’s identify, weight, age, top, handle, and employment data,” the criticism stated.
Garcia was instructed the goal was the shopper’s husband, who was abusive to her, and that the shopper was paying $5,000 for the job with a down cost of $2,500, the criticism stated.
“After agreeing to the phrases of the homicide association, Garcia requested the agent if he wanted to offer {a photograph} of the lifeless physique,” in keeping with the Justice Division launch. “Garcia was then arrested by FBI brokers, who in a subsequent search of his house, recovered an AR fashion rifle.”
Garcia is charged with the usage of interstate commerce services within the fee of murder-for-hire. He faces as much as 10 years in jail if convicted, the Justice Division stated.
CNN has been unable to succeed in Garcia’s legal professional for remark. Garcia is about to look in courtroom on Tuesday afternoon.
CNN has reached out to the Air Nationwide Guard for remark.
