John Michael Musbach, a 34-year-old resident of Haddonfield, New Jersey, has recently been sentenced to six and a half years in jail for a heinous crime. Musbach hired a hitman on the Dark Web to murder a child who was about to testify against him in a child-pornography case. This child, who was the victim of Musbach’s crimes, had exchanged sexually explicit videos and photographs with him in the summer of 2015. When the victim’s parents discovered the offense, they immediately contacted law enforcement. Working in collaboration with the Atlantic County Prosecutor’s office, New York’s police were able to identify Musbach as the perpetrator and arrested him in March 2016. However, the investigation took a dark turn when it was revealed that Musbach was also searching for a hitman to eliminate the child so that he wouldn’t have to face the consequences of his actions.
The Horrifying Intentions of Musbach
During the search of Musbach’s home, investigators stumbled upon evidence that revealed his chilling plan. He had been actively seeking a hitman on the Dark Web who could murder the child and prevent them from testifying against him. Astonishingly, Musbach even inquired whether killing a 14-year-old would be an issue. Assured that the age of the target was not a problem, he proceeded to transfer approximately 40 BTC (equivalent to around $20,000 at the time) to the “executor.” Musbach initially pleaded guilty in 2017 to endangering the welfare of a child by sexual contact and received a two-year suspended sentence with parole supervision for life. However, upon discovering his murder plans, the Camden federal court decided to increase his punishment to six and a half years, just shy of the maximum sentence of ten years.
A Startling Case in Beverly Hills, Los Angeles
Scott Quinn Berkett, a 26-year-old resident of Beverly Hills, Los Angeles, is another individual who has fallen into the disturbing world of murder-for-hire on the Dark Web. Berkett pleaded guilty last summer to sending $13,000 worth of bitcoin to a hitman with the intention of killing his ex-girlfriend. Unbeknownst to Berkett, the hitman was an undercover agent who immediately contacted the authorities after discovering the crime. Shockingly, Berkett confirmed his intentions and even sent additional money to the undercover agents. Initially, prosecutors sought a ten-year prison sentence for Berkett. However, they later recommended a five-year sentence, citing his “mental health condition” as a mitigating factor. Judge Scarsi ultimately followed this recommendation and sentenced Berkett to 60 months in prison.
The Dark Web: A Haven for Criminal Intent
These cases shed light on the dangerous world of the Dark Web, where individuals with criminal intentions can find the means to carry out heinous acts. From hiring hitmen to facilitating illegal activities, the Dark Web provides a cloak of anonymity that emboldens criminals to act on their darkest desires. The perplexing nature of these cases, where individuals who were already involved in illegal activities sought to further evade justice through murder-for-hire, highlights the burstiness of criminal intent and the lengths some individuals are willing to go to avoid facing the consequences of their actions. As law enforcement agencies continue their efforts to combat these crimes on the Dark Web, it is clear that the battle against this hidden underworld is far from over.