A Medical Doctor Pleads Guilty to Dark Web Murder-for-Hire Plot
A shocking case has emerged involving a medical doctor who pleaded guilty to using the dark web in a murder-for-hire plot against his girlfriend. The individual paid over $25,000 worth of bitcoin to carry out the murderous plan, but fortunately, authorities intervened and prevented the crime.
$25,200 in Bitcoin for a Murder Plot
The US Department of Justice (DOJ) released a statement revealing that James Wan, a 54-year-old medical doctor from Georgia, attempted to hire a hitman through the dark web marketplace to have his girlfriend killed. Wan initiated contact with the dark web marketplace on April 12, 2022, and placed an order for the murder.
Wan transferred an initial payment of $8,000 in BTC to an escrow wallet and provided personal details of his girlfriend to facilitate the hitman’s job. However, due to an error, the payment went to the wrong BTC address. Wan then sent another $8,000 worth of bitcoin to the correct address and made an additional payment of $8,000 a week later to complete the full payment for the job.
Impatient for the murder to occur, Wan inquired about its progress:
“How soon should work be done? I have submitted an Order and curious how quickly it should be carried out? Is there a way I can find out any progress? If there is anyone in my location?”
To ensure that the full amount required for the murder job was in the escrow account following a drop in BTC’s price, Wan sent an additional $1,200 in Bitcoin on May 10, 2022.
More Individuals Paying in BTC for Murder
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) thwarted the murder plot, and Wan confessed to his sinister intentions, canceling the order he placed on the dark web marketplace. He is set to be sentenced on January 18, 2024. Keri Farley, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta, commended the team’s exceptional work in averting the cold-hearted plan.
Wan is not the only individual who has used BTC to pay a hitman. In a separate case, a Mississippi woman received a 10-year sentence for hiring an assassin to kill her husband and paid $10,000 worth of BTC for the job. Other instances include a medical doctor sentenced to eight years in prison for paying hitmen over $60,000 worth of BTC to kidnap his wife and assault a former colleague, as well as an individual who received a six-year jail term for paying bitcoin to a hitman to kill a child.
Hot Take: The Dark Web’s Disturbing Underbelly Exposed
The case of a medical doctor using the dark web for a murder-for-hire plot sheds light on the disturbing activities that take place in hidden corners of the internet. It serves as a reminder of how cryptocurrencies like bitcoin can be misused for illicit purposes.
While law enforcement agencies have been successful in apprehending individuals involved in such crimes, it underscores the need for continuous vigilance and efforts to combat illegal activities facilitated by digital currencies.
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