Case Background
A man residing in New Jersey, named John Michael Musbach, has been sentenced to six and a half years in prison after trading explicit images with a minor and plotting to assassinate the minor to prevent them from testifying against him. This bewildering case involved hiring a hitman on the dark web, with an unusual payment of 40 bitcoin, equivalent to approximately $1.2 million in today’s market.
The Crime
The events unfolded during the summer of 2015, when Musbach, a resident of Galloway in Atlantic County – approximately a stone’s throw away from Atlantic City, began trading explicit sexual photographs with a 13-year-old from New York. Following the discovery of their interactions, the minor’s parents quickly alerted the authorities.
Police Involvement
The national police force, upon identifying Musbach as the offender, decided to delegate the case to the local authorities for further action. As a result, the Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office (ACPO) arrested the 34-year-old Musbach in March 2016 under charges of child pornography possession. The arrest also involved a comprehensive search of Musbach’s house.
Musbach’s Reduced Sentence
Despite the mounting evidence against him, Musbach refused to accept defeat without a fight. Between May 7 and May 20 that year, it was discovered that he had been clandestinely conversing with a person he thought to be a hitman on the “dark web.” According to the Department of Justice (DoJ), Musbach intended to get rid of the minor so that they couldn’t testify against him in the pending criminal case.
Musbach’s mug shots, via Law & Crime.
When asked if a 14-year-old was too young to target, the alleged hitman set Musbach’s doubts to rest. Musbach then made a payment of 40 bitcoin for the proposed deed, an amount that was valued at approximately $20,000 at that time and, incredibly, $1.2 million in the present day.
Musbach’s Scam
Days passed, and Musbach grew increasingly anxious. His concerns were apparent from the messages he repeatedly sent to the hitman, inquiring about the progress of the planned murder. He even refused to transfer an additional $5,000 in bitcoin when requested by the hitman. In a turn of events, the hitman revealed the operation to be a scam and threatened to expose Musbach’s details to the authorities if he didn’t stay quiet.
Verdict
In February of the current year, Musbach entered a guilty plea for the murder-for-hire charge. On Wednesday, he received a sentence of 78 months or approximately six and a half years in jail and three years of supervised release, in addition to a fine of $30,000.
Reaction From Musbach’s Attorney
Musbach’s lawyer, Rocco C. Cipparone Jr., was satisfied with the more lenient sentence. He highlighted that the charge could have attracted a maximum of a 10-year sentence. Speaking with the Philadelphia Inquirer, Cipparone shed light on evidence suggesting Musbach had “long-existing development deficits documented since early childhood.” These evidence played a significant role in justifying the reduced sentence, as they served as mitigating factors. According to the attorney, the judge “appropriately credited the mitigating information we put forth.”
