An Air National Guardsman is facing federal charges after he tried to apply for work as a hit man to earn some extra money on the side of his job in the military, the Justice Department said in a press release.
Josiah Ernesto Garcia, 21, of Tennessee, who nicknamed himself “The Reaper,” tried to get involved with a hitman after coming across a website, rentahitman.com, which he thought was a site for those looking for for work as a professional killer.
The domain is actually a parody site offering false testimonials from individuals who claimed to be using assassin services, but Garcia was so desperate for the extra money, reportedly willing to pull off a hit for as little as $5,000, that he was totally unable to knew the site was a parody.
Needing money to support his family, Garcia began searching online for contract mercenary jobs in mid-February and came across the website while searching. Garcia stated on his profile that while he would be fine killing in his home state, he would rather travel for work.
Originally created in 2005 to advertise a cybersecurity startup, the website failed, yet for the next decade it received many inquiries about assassins.
Josiah Ernesto Garcia, 21, faces federal charges for attempted murder-for-hire with an undercover FBI agent
Garcia, 21, needed money to support his family and searched online for a job as a hit man despite 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 owner of the website then turned the site into a parody site with a feedback form where people can request such services, in addition to an option for someone to apply as a hitman.
Garcia filed an employment inquiry that showed he was interested in getting work as a hit man.
He then repeatedly complied with his initial request and submitted other identification documents, including a resume showing that he was an experienced marksman and had been enlisted in the Tennessee Air National Guard since July 2021.
The resume also indicated that Garcia had the nickname “Reaper,” which he earned through his military experience and marksmanship.
Garcia continued to contact the website administrator, stating that he wanted to get to work as soon as possible.
Garcia submitted a request to the website to work as a hitman with the owner of the website, then forwarded his information to the FBI
During a search of his Garcia’s home, an AR-style shotgun was found. He posted about it online
Garcia allegedly did not realize the website was a joke and repeatedly contacted the website administrator to get work as a hitman
There are even some fake testimonials on the site which further reinforce the illusion of legitimacy
A little over a month later, an undercover FBI agent got involved and began communicating with Garcia. It ended with him agreeing to kill a person for $5,000.
On Wednesday, Garcia met the undercover cop at a park in Hendersonville, Tennessee, where he was given information for a fictional person, including photos of the person he was supposed to kill, along with a $2,500 down payment.
After agreeing to the terms of the murder settlement, Garcia even asked the officer if he should provide a photo of the dead body.
‘Are you locked up? This is what you want? Because it sounds like there’s a lot going on. You’re in the military. You have a university. There’s a lot going on, as far as good things are in your life to come into this world,” the agent asked, according to the affidavit.
“It’s a dark world, and I just don’t want you to regret coming 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 had no qualms about it.
Garcia allegedly told the undercover FBI agent that he needed money to support his family and began searching online for leases in mid-February.
Garcia claims he was nicknamed “Reaper,” which he says he earned through his military experience and marksmanship
He stated to the undercover officer that he would rather work in another state, but that he could also kill locally.
The agent then told him that if he killed fifty people, he would make a large sum of money.
“Those are beginner numbers for the Reaper.” Garcia is said to have responded before adding, “My only question is when can I start?” I am very excited.’
At that point, Garcia was arrested by FBI agents. A subsequent search found an AR-style rifle.
If convicted, Garcia could face up to 10 years in prison.
Garcia has since stated that a Tennessee Air National Guard employee was the one who suggested looking for hitmen as a way to make some extra cash.
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