US woman hires hitman to commit murder with coronavirus loan

By Servet Gunerigok

WASHINGTON (AA) - A woman in the US state of Florida reportedly hired a hitman with a coronavirus-era Paycheck Protection Program loan she received from the state last year.

According to the Miami Herald newspaper on Tuesday, Jasmine Martinez, 33, received a $15,000 loan in April 2021 and withdrew $10,000 of it from her account to pay hitman Javon Carter who allegedly shot and killed Le’Shonte Jones, 24.

Jones was shot by the man wearing a black hooded sweatshirt as she walked to her apartment building with her daughter, 3, according to Miami-Dade police, as reported by the New York Times.

The newspaper said the killing occurred May 3, 2021, and Jones was a US Transportation Security Administration officer at Miami International Airport.

According to police records, Carter was arrested hours after the murder and police found a video of him counting large sums of money on his cell phone.

Carter is charged with first-degree murder in connection while Martinez will reportedly be charged with hiring a hitman.

Police believe the shooting was a result of a long dispute between the two women, the Times reported.