Man Who Paid $20K in BTC to Hitman to Kill a Child Goes to Prison for 6 Years (Report)

John Michael Musbach – a 34-year-old resident of Haddonfield, New Jersey – was reportedly sentenced to six and a half years in jail for hiring a hitman to commit a murder.

He transferred $20,000 worth of BTC to the “executor” to kill a kid that was about to testify against him in a child-pornography case. Moreover, the youngster was the victim. 

The Gruesome Crime That Led to the Punishment

According to recent coverage, Musbach exchanged sexually explicit videos and photographs with a 13-year-old child in the summer of 2015. The victim’s parents learned about the offense and contacted law enforcement agents. 

New York’s police identified that Musbach was behind the crime. The authorities collaborated with the Atlantic County Prosecutor’s office, which arrested him in March 2016. 

In addition to the pornography charges, the investigators discovered that Musbach had even more horrid intentions. Upon searching his home, they detected he was looking for a hitman on the Dark Web that could kill the child so it won’t testify against him. 

The man asked one potential “killer” whether murdering a 14-year-old would be an issue. He was assured that the target’s age was not a problem and paid approximately 40 BTC (equaling around $20,000 at the time).

Musbach pleaded guilty in 2017 to endangering the welfare of a child by sexual contact. He received a two-year suspended sentence with parole supervision for life. 

After finding out about his murder plans, though, the Camden federal court changed the punishment to six and a half years. He faced a maximum sentence of ten years behind bars.

Surprisingly, not the First Case

Scott Quinn Berkett – a 26-year-old resident of Beverly Hills, Los Angeles – pleaded guilty last summer to sending $13K in bitcoin to a hitman on the Dark Web whose task was to kill Berkett’s ex-girlfriend.

Undercover agents discovered the crime and contacted the offender introducing themselves as the killer. Berkett confirmed his intentions and even sent additional money to the detectives. 

Prosecutors have initially aimed at a ten-year prison sentence. However, they later recommended a five-year one because Berkett’s “mental health condition is a mitigating factor.” Judge Scarsi followed that guidance and sent him to prison for 60 months.