California Social Media Influencer, Father, and Ex-Boyfriend Charged in Dark Web Murder-for-Hire Plot
A social media influencer from California, along with her attorney father and ex-boyfriend, have been charged with attempting to hire a hitman on the dark web to kill the father of her child. The influencer, Gabriela Lauren Gonzalez, her father, Francisco Gonzalez, and her former boyfriend, Kai Faron Cordrey, are accused of plotting to murder Jack Avery, the father of Gonzalez's daughter, during a custody battle. The scheme allegedly unfolded between 2020 and 2022, with the trio portraying Avery as unfit in family court proceedings.
Gabriela Gonzalez faces attempted murder and conspiracy charges for her alleged involvement in the murder-for-hire plot targeting Jack Avery. Prosecutors claim she discussed wanting Avery dead and hiring a hitman between October 2020 and May 2021. Cordrey allegedly helped locate a hitman through the dark web, while Francisco Gonzalez allegedly financed the operation.
Authorities allege that Francisco Gonzalez sent Cordrey $10,000 disguised as web development payments to help hire a killer. Cordrey then sought an additional $4,000 to continue the plot. Cordrey used a dark-web account under the alias "LizardKing69" to provide Avery's information to an undercover FBI agent posing as a hitman.
The undercover agent engaged with Cordrey, discussing payment, proof of death, and the target, Jack Avery. Cordrey allegedly mentioned that Gonzalez wanted Avery killed and that Francisco Gonzalez was willing to pay for it. The trio faces charges of attempted murder, conspiracy to commit murder, and solicitation of murder, with prosecutors recommending a $2 million bail for each defendant.
The alleged murder-for-hire plot left Jack Avery fearing for his life, prompting him to file for a restraining order against Gonzalez and seek sole custody of their daughter. The investigation, initially led by the FBI, was later taken over by the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office Major Crimes Division. The arrests in the case came years after the plot unfolded, and it remains unclear if the suspects have retained attorneys.