An Air National Guardsman is facing federal charges after he attempted to apply for work as a hitman to make some extra cash on the side, in addition to his job in the military, the Department of Justice said in a press release.
Josiah Ernesto Garcia, 21, from Tennessee, who nicknamed himself ‘The Reaper’, attempted to become involved in a murder-for-hire scheme after he came across a website, rentahitman.com, which he believed to be a site for those looking for work as a professional killer.
The domain is actually a parody site that offers false testimonials from individuals who have claimed to use hitman services, yet Garcia was so desperate for the extra cash, allegedly willing to perform a hit for a mere $5,000, he appeared to be completely unaware that the site was parody.
Garcia was in need of money to support his family and began searching for contract mercenary jobs online in mid-February and it was during the search he came across the website. Garcia indicated on his profile that while he would be okay to kill in his home state, he would prefer to travel for work.
Originally created in 2005 to advertise a cybersecurity startup, the website failed, and over the next decade, yet received many inquiries about murder-for-hire services.
Josiah Ernesto Garcia, 21, is facing federal charges for attempting to engage in a murder-for-hire scheme with an undercover FBI agent
Garcia, 21, needed money to support his family and searched online for a job as a hitman despite having a job with the Tennessee Air National Guard
Originally created in 2005 to advertise a cybersecurity startup, the website is now a parody site with a feedback form where people can request hitman services
The website’s owner then converted the site to a parody site with a feedback form where people can request such services alongside an option for someone to apply to work as a hired killer.
Garcia submitted an employment inquiry indicating that he was interested in obtaining work as a hitman.
He then repeatedly followed up on his initial request and submitted other identification documents including a resume indicating that he was an expert marksman and had been employed in the Tennessee Air National Guard since July 2021.
The resume also indicated that Garcia was nicknamed ‘Reaper,’ which he had earned from his military experience and marksmanship.
Garcia continued to follow up with the website administrator, indicating that he wanted to start work as soon as possible.
Garcia submitted an inquiry to the website to work as a hit man with the website owner then forwarding his information to the FBI
During a search of his Garcia’s home, an AR-style rifle was found. He posted about it online
Garcia is alleged to have not realised that the website was a joke and repeatedly contacted the website administrator over getting work as a hitman
There are even some fake testimonials on the site further enhancing the illusion of legitimacy
Just over one month later, an undercover FBI agent became involved and started communicating with Garcia. It ended up with him agreeing to kill an individual for $5,000.
On Wednesday, Garcia met the undercover agent at a park in Hendersonville, Tennessee, where he was provided with information for a fictional individual, including photographs for the person he needed to murder, together with a down payment of $2,500.
After agreeing to the terms of the murder arrangement, Garcia even asked the agent if he needed to provide a photograph of the dead body.
‘You are locked in? This is what you want? Because it sounds like you have a lot going on. You’re in the military. You’ve got college. You’ve got a lot going on, as far as good things in your life to kinda’ get in this world,’ the agent asked, according to the affidavit.
‘It is a shady world, and I just don’t want you to have regrets if you come to work for us, because it, I mean it messes with your mind, shooting people.’
Garcia stated that he had weighed the psychological effects of killing someone and that he had no qualms with it.
Garcia allegedly told the undercover FBI agent that was in need of money to support his family and began searching for contract mercenary jobs online in mid-February
Garcia claims he was nicknamed ‘Reaper,’ which he said he had earned from his military experience and marksmanship
He stated to the undercover agent that he would prefer to work in another state but that he would also be fine to kill locally.
The agent then told him that if he were to kill fifty people, he would make a large amount of money.
‘That’s rookie numbers for the Reaper.’ Garcia is alleged to have responded before adding, ‘My only question is when can I start? I’m very excited.’
It was then Garcia was arrested by FBI agents. During a subsequent search of his home, an AR-style rifle was found.
If convicted, Garcia faces up to 10 years in prison.
Garcia has since stated that a co-worker in the Tennessee Air National Guard was the one to suggest he seek out hitman jobs as a way to make some additional cash.
Garcia’s plan to become a hitman ‘missed’ the mark when the FBI set up a sting operation that led to his arrest
