A Salt Lake City woman has admitted to using the dark web to orchestrate a murder-for-hire plot, paying $5,000 in Bitcoin for the hit.
Krista Renae Stone, 23, of Salt Lake City, pleaded guilty on May 30, 2024, to using interstate commerce facilities in the commission of murder-for-hire. Stone’s scheme began in March 2023 and continued through September 2023, with the defendant using the dark web to find a hitman and carry out the crime.
According to court documents, Stone used the internet, specifically the dark web, with the intent to murder another person in exchange for payment. Stone further admitted to engaging with a website offering ‘hitman for hire’ services and ‘ordered’ the killing of the victim for $5,000, using Bitcoin to complete the order.
Stone’s guilty plea included a detailed description of the victim, including a photograph, where the victim was located, and how she wanted the job done. This brazen act of violence demonstrates the dangers of the dark web and the ease with which individuals can access these services.
The case is being investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, with Assistant United States Attorney Carol A. Dain of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Utah prosecuting the case. U.S. Attorney Trina A. Higgins made the announcement, stating that this case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods, a program aimed at reducing violent crime and making neighborhoods safer.
Stone is scheduled to be sentenced on July 15, 2024, at 8:30 a.m. in courtroom 8.3 before a U.S. District Court Judge at the United States District Courthouse in downtown Salt Lake City. This case serves as a stark reminder of the consequences of seeking violence and the importance of law enforcement’s efforts to bring perpetrators to justice.
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Key Facts
- State: Utah
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Cybercrime|Violent Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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