Tennessee Air National Guardsman Arrested After Applying To Be A Hitman on a Fake Website

A Tennessee Air National Guardsman was arrested last week after he applied for an assassin job on a fake website.

On Thursday, 21-year-old Josiah Ernesto Garcia was charged with using interstate facilities to commit murder for hire using a fake website called Rentahitman.com

According to a news release from the U.S. Attorney Henry C. Leventis, he was arrested after meeting with an undercover FBI agent to work out a contract to kill someone in exchange for money.

The press release revealed that Garcia found the website in February after looking online for contract mercenary work to support his family. On the employment inquiry form, he indicated that he was interested in being a hitman.

After receiving a response to his initial request, he supplied more identity documents, a headshot, and a resume that outlined his skill as a marksman and his employment in the Air National Guard since July 2021.

According to his resume, Garcia had been nicknamed “Reaper” due to his military experience and marksmanship. It also stated he was an expert marksman “awarded for not missing a single bullseye on all of the targets and for shooting expert with 2 (or more) weapons.”

“Im looking for a job, that pays well, related to my military experience (Shooting and Killing the marked target) so I can support my kid on the way,” Garcia said through a follow-up email. “What can I say, I enjoy doing what I do, so if I can find a job that is similar to it, (such as this one) put me in coach!”

Following an inquiry from the FBI, Bob Innes, the owner of the website, replied to Garcia.

“Josiah, a Field Coordinator will be in touch in the near future. You will receive a message when they are ready. Timing is based on client needs,” Innes wrote.

Not long after, Garcia began talking to the undercover FBI agent and agreed to kill someone for $5,000.

On Wednesday, Garcia was given a target packet, that included photographs, additional details on the person he was ordered to kill, and a $2,500 down payment, by the undercover agent in a park in Hendersonville, Tennessee. 

After agreeing to the terms, he asked the agent if he needed a picture of the dead body.

Garcia was later arrested by FBI agents after they searched his home where an AR-style rifle was found.

If convicted, Garcia could face up to 10 years in prison.