California Influencer and Father Charged in Dark Web Murder-for-Hire Plot
Severity: High (Score: 66.0)
Sources: Whmi, Foxla, Stereogum, Foxnews
Published: · Updated:
Keywords: father, charged, tiktok, influencer, hitman, gonzalez, dark
Severity indicators: ot
Summary
Gabriela Lauren Gonzalez, her father Francisco Gonzalez, and ex-boyfriend Kai Faron Cordrey are charged with conspiracy to commit murder and attempted murder in a plot to kill Jack Avery, the father of Gonzalez's daughter. The alleged scheme involved hiring a hitman through the dark web during a contentious custody battle. Prosecutors claim the plot unfolded from 2020 to 2022, with Francisco allegedly financing the operation and Cordrey using Bitcoin for payments. The FBI intervened with an undercover agent posing as a hitman. The defendants face serious charges, with potential sentences of 25 years to life in prison. Gabriela is currently held without bail, while Francisco is awaiting extradition from Florida to California. Key Points: • Gabriela Gonzalez and her father are accused of plotting to murder Jack Avery over custody disputes. • The alleged murder-for-hire scheme involved using the dark web and Bitcoin for payments. • The FBI's undercover operation intercepted the plot before any harm could occur.
Detailed Analysis
**Impact** The primary individuals affected are Jack Avery, a former member of the boy band Why Don’t We, and the family involved in a prolonged custody dispute. The alleged murder-for-hire plot involved three defendants: Gabriela Gonzalez (a California social media influencer), her father Francisco Gonzalez (a Florida attorney), and her ex-boyfriend Kai Cordrey. The case spans multiple U.S. states including California, Florida, and Hawaii, with potential reputational damage to involved parties and legal consequences. No direct business or operational data breaches are reported. **Technical Details** The attack vector involved using the dark web and cryptocurrency (Bitcoin and Gemini accounts) to hire a hitman, with communications conducted via coded language and aliases (e.g., "LizardKing69"). The plot was disrupted by an undercover FBI agent posing as the hitman. Financial transactions disguised as legitimate payments (e.g., "web-development payments") were used to fund the operation. No malware, CVEs, or network infrastructure details were disclosed. **Recommended Response** Law enforcement and cybersecurity teams should monitor dark web marketplaces and cryptocurrency transactions for similar murder-for-hire schemes. Detection of suspicious financial transactions disguised as legitimate services and monitoring of alias-based communications on dark web forums is advised. No specific patches or malware detections apply; focus should remain on threat intelligence sharing and law enforcement coordination.
Source articles (4)
- TikTok influencer Gabriela Gonzalez, father charged in dark web hitman plot against singer ... — Foxla · 2026-05-20
LOS ANGELES - A social media influencer, her father, and her then-boyfriend were charged on Tuesday for allegedly plotting to kill the father of her 7-year-old daughter, according to the Los Angeles C… - TikTok Influencer And Her Father Charged With Hiring Dark Web Hitman To Kill Why Don't We Singer — Stereogum · 2026-05-20
Gabbie Gonzalez, a popular lifestyle TikTok personality, has been charged alongside her father and a Hawaii surf instructor for allegedly hiring a hitman targeting Jack Avery, a former member of the d… - California influencer, father accused of dark web murder-for-hire plot — Foxnews · 2026-05-20
Florida attorney Francisco Gonzalez appears in court after his arrest in the alleged Jack Avery murder-for-hire case. Credit: FOX 35 Orlando A California social media influencer, her attorney father a… - Influencer mom, lawyer dad accused of dark-web murder plot against boy-band baby daddy — Whmi · 2026-05-20
A California social media influencer, her attorney father and her ex-boyfriend are accused of trying to hire a hitman on the dark web to murder the father of her child in what prosecutors say was a ye…
Timeline
- 2020-10-01 — Gonzalez discusses wanting Avery dead: Gabriela Gonzalez allegedly expressed a desire to kill Jack Avery during custody disputes.
- 2021-04-01 — Francisco Gonzalez sends $10,000 to Cordrey: Francisco Gonzalez allegedly disguised a payment as 'web-development payments' to fund the murder plot.
- 2021-09-01 — FBI undercover agent poses as hitman: An undercover agent contacted Cordrey, discussing payment and logistics for the murder of Jack Avery.
- 2026-05-18 — Francisco Gonzalez arrested in Florida: Francisco Gonzalez was taken into custody in Florida on a California fugitive warrant related to the murder plot.
- 2026-05-19 — Criminal charges filed against defendants: Los Angeles County prosecutors officially charged the trio with conspiracy and attempted murder following a lengthy investigation.