NARANJA, Fla. – The State Attorney’s Office released a video on Wednesday showing Javon Carter — an alleged hitman who is accused of killing a U.S. Transportation Security Administration officer.
Carter, 29, recorded himself in a car while counting stacks of $100 bills, police said. Detectives believe it was his payment for killing Le’Shonte Jones, a TSA officer at Miami International Airport, on May 3.
Jones, a single mother, was with her 3-year-old daughter, just outside of her apartment in south Miami-Dade County’s Naranja neighborhood. Her daughter was injured. Jones was 24.
“Another day in the office,” he said during the 35-second video. Officers reported finding it in his phone.
Detectives believe the source of the cash was the Paycheck Protection Program, or PPP, a federal program designed to help small businesses keep their workforce employed during the coronavirus pandemic.
Investigators accused Jasmine Martinez, a hairstylist, of fraudulently obtaining a $15,000 PPP loan in April. Detectives believe she withdrew more than $10,000 to pay Carte, according to the arrest warrant.
Miami-Dade County corrections officers have been holding Carter without bond at the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center since Feb. 3rd, records show. He demanded a trial by jury on Feb. 4.
Carter is facing charges of first-degree murder, first-degree murder with a deadly weapon, conspiring to commit first-degree murder, two counts of tampering with a witness, and two counts of weapons possession by a felon.
Corrections officers have been holding Martinez, 33, without bond at TGKCC since Feb. 21st. Martinez is facing charges of first-degree murder, first-degree murder with a deadly weapon, conspiring to commit first-degree murder, two counts of tampering with a witness, and interception of communication.
Romiel Robinson, 35, was also involved in the murder-for-hire plot, police said. Corrections officers have been holding him without bond since Dec. 13, 2020. Jail records show he is the subject of nine cases, including Jones’ murder, an attempted murder, a burglary, and an armed robbery.
A grand jury indicted Carter, Martinez, and Robinson for Jones’ murder on Feb. 23. Their next status hearing in the case is at 10 a.m. on April 8.