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A Tennessee Air National Guardsman is facing charges after applying to be a hitman on a spoof “Rent-a-Hitman” website, according to the Justice Department.
Josiah Ernesto Garcia, 21, was charged Thursday after submitting an employment inquiry to the website rentahitman.com, a parody site that features “testimonials” from allegedly satisfied Hit-Man customers.
The website was originally created in 2005 “to advertise a cybersecurity startup company,” the Justice Department said in a statement. News release, “The company failed and over the next decade he received many inquiries about murder-for-hire services.”
According to a criminal complaint filed Thursday, Garcia indicated in February that he had “military experience and rifle expertise” and requested an “in-depth job description.”
“Garcia complied with this initial request and submitted other identification documents and a resume indicating that he was an expert marksman and had been serving in the Air National Guard since July 2021. The resume also indicated that Garcia’s nickname was “Reaper”, which was earned. His military experience and marksmanship, the Justice Department said in a news release.
Garcia sent another follow-up email a few days later, According to the complaint, he said he did not receive any response after submitting his biodata.
According to investigators, Garcia wrote in the email, “Why I want this job* I am looking for a job that pays well, is related to my military experience (firing and killing at marked targets) so that I can continue my studies along the way. To support the child. What can I say, I enjoy what I do, so if I get a job like this, (like this one) put me in coach!”
After Garcia sent more follow-up emails, the website owner – at the direction of the FBI – responded with an email, “Josiah, a field coordinator will be in touch in the near future. Will send you a message when they are ready.” Will receive. As per the complaint, the timing is based on the customer’s needs.
On April 5, an FBI undercover agent contacted Garcia for a phone interview, during which he asked, “How soon can I start?” and “What does payment look like?” According to the complaint.
The undercover agent asked Garcia if he was comfortable taking fingers or ears as trophies or torturing a client at his request.
According to the complaint, Garcia said, “If it’s possible and I have the ability to do it, I’m more than capable of doing it.”
In an in-person meeting with the undercover agent on Wednesday, Garcia was presented “a ‘target package’ containing photographs and a description of a hypothetical target’s name, weight, age, height, address and employment information,” the complaint said.
The complaint says Garcia was told the target was the customer’s husband, who was abusing her and that the customer was paying $5,000 for the job with a $2,500 down payment.
According to the Justice Department release, “After agreeing to the terms of the murder arrangement, Garcia asked the agent if he needed to provide a photograph of the body.” “Garcia was then arrested by FBI agents, who recovered an AR style rifle in a subsequent search of his home.”
Garcia is charged with use of interstate commerce facilities in the commission of a murder-for-hire. The Justice Department said he faces up to 10 years in prison if convicted.
CNN has been unable to reach Garcia’s attorney for comment. Garcia is scheduled to appear in court Tuesday afternoon.
CNN has contacted the Air National Guard for comment.