Air National Guardsman charged after applying to be a hitman for $5,000, feds say

Natalie Neysa Alund, USA TODAY
Updated ·2 min read
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A Tennessee Air National Guardsman is facing criminal charges after federal prosecutors say he applied to be a contract killer online for $5,000.

Josiah Ernesto Garcia, 21, is charged with the use of interstate facilities in the commission of murder for hire, according to a news release from the U.S. Department of Justice,

A criminal complaint revealed Garcia needed money to support his family and, in February, began searching online for contract mercenary jobs and came across a website searching for killers, per a release from U.S. Attorney Henry Leventis' office.

The website, the release shows, contains false testimonials from people reportedly hiring hitmen, and an intake form where people can request services. The website also has an option for someone to apply to work as a hired killer.

Garcia sent in an inquiry indicating he was interested in employment as a hitman, the release continues. He followed up on the request and submitted other identification documents and a resume, indicating he was an expert marksman and employed in the Air National Guard since July 2021.

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Nicknamed the 'Reaper'

Garcia's resume also revealed he was nicknamed “Reaper” which was earned from military experience and marksmanship. He continued to follow up with the website administrator indicating he wanted to go to work as soon as possible.

An FBI undercover agent then began communicating with Garcia who subsequently agreed to kill an individual for $5,000.

Garcia met the undercover agent Wednesday at a park in Hendersonville, about 20 miles northeast of Nashville, and was assigned a fictional person to target, as well as a packet with photographs and other information about the individual to be killed and a down payment of $2,500.

Garcia agreed to the terms of the hit and asked the agent if he needed to provide a photograph of the dead body, the release states.

FBI agents then arrested Garcia and found an AR-style rifle during a subsequent search of his home.

Garcia faces up to 10 years in prison if he is convicted.

Natalie Neysa Alund covers breaking and trending news for USA TODAY. Reach her at nalund@usatoday.com and follow her on Twitter @nataliealund

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Tennessee Air National Guardsman applied to be hitman for $5K: Feds