New Jersey man accused of paying hit man $20,000 to kill a 14-year-old

7 months ago

A New Jersey man admitted to paying $20,000 successful cryptocurrency to person a 14-year-old kid murdered, according to a news merchandise from nan Department of Justice connected Thursday.

John Michael Musbach, 31, pleaded blameworthy to an indictment charging him pinch 1 count of "knowingly and intentionally utilizing and causing different to usage a installation of interstate and overseas commerce, that is nan internet, pinch nan intent that a execution beryllium committed," according to nan news release.

Musbach is simply a resident of Haddonfield, N.J., but lived successful Atlantic County erstwhile he first made interaction pinch nan unidentified victim, prosecutors say. The unfortunate lived successful New York astatine nan time.

Musbach exchanged sexually definitive photos and videos pinch nan unfortunate successful nan summertime of 2015, nan DOJ said, and nan victim's parents called constabulary erstwhile they recovered retired astir nan "inappropriate contact." New York rule enforcement officers identified Musbach arsenic an Atlantic County resident and contacted nan Atlantic County Prosecutor's Office (ACPO). In March 2016, ACPO officers arrested Musbach connected kid pornography charges, nan DOJ said.

After Musbach was arrested, he "decided to person nan unfortunate killed truthful nan unfortunate could not attest against him successful nan pending criminal case," prosecutors allege. During a two-week play successful May 2016, Musbach "repeatedly communicated" pinch nan administrator of a murder-for-hire website connected nan acheronian net, nan DOJ said. The website, which was not named by nan DOJ, purported to connection statement killings aliases different convulsive acts successful return for cryptocurrency payments.

Musbach allegedly arranged for a murder-to-hire and asked nan purported deed man if "a 14-year-old was excessively young to target." Prosecutors opportunity Musbach past paid $20,000 successful bitcoin for nan hit. After Musbach asked nan website's administrator for much specifications astir nan deed and erstwhile it would occur, he was pressed for an further $5,000, nan DOJ said.

When Musbach past tried to cancel nan hit, nan website administrator revealed nan "website was a scam," and threatened to uncover Musbach's accusation to rule enforcement, prosecutors said.

The DOJ did not opportunity if it was nan website administrator who made authorities alert of Musbach's murder-for-hire plot.

The complaint of usage of interstate commerce accommodation successful nan committee of murder-for-hire carries a maximum condemnation of 10 years successful situation and a good of astatine slightest $250,000, nan DOJ said. Musbach is scheduled to beryllium sentenced connected June 13.