Three people were arrested in connection with a murder-for-hire plot that left a young Miami mother dead.
According to authorities, funds from a federal Paycheck Protection Program COVID-19 loan were used to hire a hitman to kill 24-year-old Le’Shonte Jones. In May of last year, the Transportation Security Administration agent was shot outside her Miami-Dade home. Her 3-year-old daughter was also injured in the incident.
Javon Carter, 29; Romiel Robinson, 35; and Jasmine Martinez, 33, all face murder charges related to her death, NBC Miami reports. According to Miami-Dade police, Martinez is believed to be the mastermind behind the murder.
“Bank statements were obtained which show a series of withdrawals of over $10,000 in cash and/or payments which occurs over the following days leading up to the homicide,” according to the arrest warrant.
Martinez and Jones had known each other before the shooting. Martinez allegedly viewed her as a threat because she would testify against her and two additional people. The warrant says that Robinson contacted Carter and introduced him to Martinez.
On May 3, Jones was fatally shot in front of her daughter. An anonymous caller identified Carter as the killer. Investigators were able to place him at Jones’ apartment complex at the time of the shooting using cellphone data. They also located a video Carter recorded on his phone with a large sum of cash saying, “Just another day at the office.”
Attorneys for Martinez and Robinson say their clients deny having any involvement in Jones’ murder. Carter and Robinson are currently in custody without bond. Martinez is now awaiting extradition to Miami-Dade from St. Lucie County.
