Georgia doctor James Wan admits to offering dark web hitman $16K in Bitcoin to kill his girlfriend in ‘cold-hearted murderous plot’ that was thwarted by the FBI
A doctor in Georgia has pleaded guilty to finding a hitman on the dark web in an attempt to have his girlfriend killed.
Dr. James Wan, 54, entered his plea Tuesday in Atlanta federal court, admitting to one count of using an interstate commerce facility in the commission of murder-for-hire.
Prosecutors say Wan, an internal medicine specialist from the Atlanta suburb of Duluth, transferred more than $16,000 in Bitcoin to a dark web marketplace in an attempt to pay for the proposed murder.
The girlfriend targeted for murder, who remains unnamed in court documents, was placed under FBI protection after investigators uncovered the plot and escaped physical harm.
“Wan used the dark web to conceal his deadly plan,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Buchanan. “Fortunately, his plot was discovered before anyone was killed or injured.”
Dr. James Wan, 54, has pleaded guilty to finding a hit man on the dark web in an attempt to have his girlfriend killed
Prior to his arrest, Wan practiced at this American vein clinic location in Lawrenceville, although his medical license has now expired and he is no longer associated with the provider
An attorney representing Wan in the case did not immediately respond to a request for comment from DailyMail.com on Wednesday morning.
Prior to his arrest, Wan practiced at a USA Vein Clinics location in Lawrenceville, although his medical license has now expired and he is no longer associated with the provider.
According to a transcript of court proceedings reviewed by DailyMail.com, prosecutors say the FBI first learned of the assassin plot through a private tipster who monitors postings on a dark web marketplace and alerts authorities to solicitations murder that seem credible and dangerous.
The court allowed the government to withhold the names of the tipster and the marketplace from public documents, preserving them as a source for future investigations.
Prosecutors say Wan accessed the dark web marketplace from his mobile phone on April 18, 2022, and filed a warrant to have a hit man kill his girlfriend, taking her name, address, Facebook account, license plate number and car description.
In the order, Wan stated, “Can take wallet, phone and car. Shoot and go. Or take the car.’
Wan then tried to transfer about $8,000 worth of Bitcoin to the dark web marketplace as a 50 percent deposit on the hit — but the money apparently went to the wrong crypto wallet and was lost.
In a conversation with the marketplace administrator two days later, Wan learned of his mistake and wrote, “D**n. I think I lost $8k. I’m sending $8,000 to escrow now.”
Wan sent another Bitcoin payment worth $8,000 to the marketplace, and the marketplace’s administrator acknowledged receipt and asked him if he wanted the murder to be carried out as an “accident or as a normal shooting.”
Prosecutors say Wan replied, “an accident is better.”
Wan, an internal medicine specialist from the Atlanta suburb of Duluth, transferred more than $16,000 worth of Bitcoin to a dark web marketplace in an attempt to pay for the proposed murder.
Then on April 29, 2022, Wan sent another $8,000 worth of Bitcoin to the escrow account on the dark web marketplace and posted a message on the forum requesting a status update on the hit.
‘How quickly does work have to be done? I have placed an Order and am curious how quickly it should be processed? Is there any way I can find out any progress? If anyone is at my location?’ He wrote.
After Bitcoin’s dollar value fell, Wan sent about $1,200 worth of cryptocurrency to the escrow account on May 10, 2022, to keep it fully funded, court documents show.
Wan faces a prison sentence of up to ten years
Prosecutors say the FBI received a tip about the murder plot from a “news organization” that passively monitored posts on the forum but was not involved in operating the marketplace or communicating directly with Wan.
The FBI took action, placed the girlfriend under protection and confronted Wan about the plot.
Prosecutors say the doctor admitted to ordering the hit, making the Bitcoin payments and checking the status of the order daily on the dark web marketplace.
Data from Wan’s phone and his Bitcoin wallet confirmed his confession.
After speaking with FBI agents, Wan canceled the hit on the dark web marketplace.
“Despite his cowardly cover-up on the dark web, Wan’s cold-hearted murderous plot was averted thanks to the exceptional work of our team,” said Special Agent Keri Farley of the FBI’s Atlanta field office.
“He will now face the full consequences of the criminal justice system,” she added. “This case shows that the FBI will not tolerate horrific acts of violence and will go to great lengths to protect our citizens.”
Wan faces up to 10 years in prison, although federal sentencing guidelines will likely call for a lesser sentence.
His sentencing hearing is scheduled for Jan. 18 before U.S. District Court Judge Leigh Martin May.