Ohio National Guard goes online to recruit killers, FBI waits and waits

In a startling case that brings attention to the perils of the dark web, Josiah Ernesto Garcia, an Ohio resident, found himself caught in a federal investigation after he applied on a hitman website that flaunted its services. Believing he was starting a new career as a hired killer, Garcia showed up for what he thought was a job interview, only to realize it was a meticulously planned sting operation by the FBI.

According to a report from USA Today, the website “www.rentahitman.com” is run by someone using the alias “Guido.” Early in 2023, the FBI instructed him to respond to Garcia’s email application and inform him that a coordinator would be in touch.

Federal prosecutors revealed that an undercover FBI agent met Garcia in a park in Hendersonville, Tennessee, where Garcia was offered $2,500 to kill a completely fictitious target. Court documents show that he enthusiastically accepted the proposition and even suggested that he could provide a photo of the victim’s corpse.

At the conclusion of this so-called interview, instead of securing a job, Garcia found himself in handcuffs. He pled guilty this week, with sentencing slated for February 2025, where he faces up to ten years in prison.

Federal court records detail that Garcia, originally from Toledo and struggling to provide for his family, began his search for contract killer jobs in mid-February 2023. It was then that he stumbled upon “www.rentahitman.com” and submitted a cover letter expressing interest in the position, showcasing his “military experience and firearms proficiency.” He followed up with various identification documents, including a resume, a professional sniper certification, and proof of his honorable discharge from the Ohio Air National Guard, where he served until July 2021.

The website, launched in 2005, initially presented itself as a cybersecurity business but faced closure soon after. However, for a decade, it continued to attract inquiries about hiring hitmen. The site’s administrator eventually had to pivot, turning it into a satirical platform that posted numerous false claims and allowed users to pretend to hire assassin services.