Federal charges are pending against a 21-year-old Air National Guardsman in Tennessee after he sent a resume to a site with a nefarious name claiming he needed money to support his family.
According to the FBI, Josiah Ernesto Garcia applied for a job as an assassin on the site "Rent-a-Hitman." An undercover agent arrested him on Wednesday at a park in Hendersonville, Tennessee.
Several arrests have been reported in connection with the site, which was created in 2005 to advertise a cybersecurity startup that failed to gain traction. As a result, it turned into a parody site, complete with false testimonials, a job application, and a request form for hitmen.
A People Magazine article in November 2022 reported that at least 30 individuals have been arrested after inquiring about hiring a hitman. The criminal complaint states that the website is currently maintained by an administrator in California.
The "Rent-a-Hitman" website has been linked to several alleged murders-for-hire plots. www.RENTAHITMAN.COM
In documents filed with the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee, Garcia began applying for hitman work in February, and first asked for a job description before providing his correct address and date of birth.
Website administration responded, asking for Garcia's resume, headshot, and identification. On Garcia's resume, he indicated he had been an expert marksman for the Air National Guard.
According to CBS News, Garcia joined the Air National Guard in July 2021 as an airman first class.
As directed by the FBI, the administrator emailed Garcia; "Josiah, a Field Coordinator will be in touch in the near future. You will receive a message when they are ready. Timing is based on client needs."
In April, an undercover FBI agent called Garcia and inquired about his intentions. He replied that he wanted to do something similar to what he was already doing. \
"I was looking into civilian law enforcement but that's not for me," he said to the agent. "I wanted something more exciting."
During their meeting, the agent repeatedly told Garcia he was not required to do this, but he replied, "I've been looking into this for some time now. I was looking for a way to make good money."
When Garcia agreed to the terms of the murder arrangement, including the $5,000 payment and description of the target, he asked the agent if he needed to provide a photograph.
A team of FBI agents then arrested him. Court documents allege that Garcia's family could not afford rent at the time of his arrest, so he was seeking work.
Garcia was charged with murder-for-hire while using interstate facilities and faces up to 10 years in prison.
Source: CBS News
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