CNN
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A Tennessee Air Nationwide Guardsman is dealing with prices after making use of to be a hitman on a spoof “rent-a-hitman” web site, in response to 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 glad 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 “army expertise, and rifle experience” and requested an “in depth job description,” in response to a legal criticism filed Thursday.
“Garcia adopted up on this preliminary request and submitted different identification paperwork and a resume, indicating he was an skilled 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 army expertise and marksmanship, the Division of Justice stated within the information launch.
Garcia despatched one other follow-up electronic mail days later, saying he didn’t hear again after submitting a resume, in response to the criticism.
In accordance with investigators, Garcia wrote within the electronic mail, “Why I need this Job* Im in search of a job, that pays properly, associated to my army expertise (Capturing and Killing the marked goal) so I can assist my child on the way in which. What can I say, I take pleasure in doing what I do, so if I can discover a job that’s much like it, (resembling this one) put me in coach!”
After Garcia despatched extra follow-up emails, the web site proprietor – on the route of the FBI – responded with an electronic mail saying, “Josiah, a Area Coordinator will probably be in contact within the close to future. You’ll obtain a message when they’re prepared. Timing is predicated on shopper wants,” in response to the criticism.
On April 5, an FBI secret agent contacted Garcia for a telephone interview, throughout which he requested, “How quickly can I begin?” and “What do the funds appear to be?” in response to the criticism.
The secret agent requested Garcia if he was comfy 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 response to the criticism.
In an in-person assembly with the secret agent on Wednesday, Garcia “was introduced with a ‘goal bundle’ consisting of pictures and an outline of a fictional goal’s title, weight, age, top, deal with, and employment data,” the criticism stated.
Garcia was advised 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 response to the Justice Division launch. “Garcia was then arrested by FBI brokers, who in a subsequent search of his residence, recovered an AR type rifle.”
Garcia is charged with using 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 lawyer for remark. Garcia is about to look in courtroom on Tuesday afternoon.
CNN has reached out to the Air Nationwide Guard for remark.