Weather 
NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!
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 yearslong custody battle that spiraled into a murder-for-hire conspiracy.
Los Angeles County prosecutors announced charges this week against Gabriela Lauren Gonzalez, her father, Francisco Gonzalez, and her former boyfriend, Kai Faron Cordrey, accusing them of plotting to kill Jack Avery — a former member of the boy band “Why Don’t We” and the father of Gonzalez’s 7-year-old daughter.
Prosecutors allege the scheme unfolded between 2020 and 2022 during an increasingly bitter custody dispute involving the couple’s daughter, Lavender. The complaint alleges Gonzalez and her father repeatedly portrayed Avery as “unfit, dangerous, or harmful” during family court proceedings.
The criminal complaint further alleges Gonzalez and Francisco Gonzalez used accusations surrounding Avery’s parenting and frustrations with the family court process “to encourage or justify efforts to remove Jack Avery from Lavender A.’s life.”
TENNESSEE MOM TRIED TO HIRE HIT MAN TO KILL FORMER TV ANCHOR EX-HUSBAND, PUT HIM ‘UNDERGROUND’: DOCS
Prosecutors allege Gonzalez enlisted Cordrey to help locate a hitman through the dark web, while Francisco Gonzalez, a Central Florida attorney, allegedly financed the operation.
According to the filing, Gonzalez allegedly discussed wanting Avery dead between October 2020 and May 2021 and discussed hiring a hitman to kill him.
FOLLOW THE FOX TRUE CRIME TEAM ON X
Prosecutors allege Gonzalez and Cordrey discussed using the dark web and Bitcoin to hire someone to kill Avery in Los Angeles and discussed “making the killing appear to be an accident.”
TEXAS INFLUENCER SENTENCED TO 10 YEARS IN PRISON FOR MURDER-FOR-HIRE PLOT
Authorities claim Francisco Gonzalez sent Cordrey approximately $10,000 in April 2021 disguised as “web-development payments” to help locate and hire a killer. Prosecutors allege Cordrey later sought another $4,000 to continue the alleged murder-for-hire plot.
The filing alleges Cordrey transferred thousands of dollars into a Gemini cryptocurrency account as part of the scheme.
SIGN UP TO GET TRUE CRIME NEWSLETTER
According to prosecutors, Cordrey later allegedly pushed for Avery to be killed “within two days” and allegedly told the purported hitman the killing “did not need to be accomplished in any special way.”
SUSPECT WITH LENGTHY RAP SHEET ARRESTED FOR ALLEGED PAM BONDI ‘MURDER-FOR-HIRE’ SCHEME: FBI
Records reviewed by Fox News Digital allege Cordrey used the alias “LizardKing69” while operating a dark-web murder-for-hire account targeting Avery. Cordrey is accused of providing Avery’s address and other identifying information to the dark-web account.
But the supposed assassin was actually an undercover FBI agent.
In September 2021, prosecutors allege Cordrey spoke with the undercover agent posing as a hitman and discussed payment, proof of death and Avery as the intended target.
BAHAMAS JUDGE REVOKES BAIL FOR AMERICAN BEAUTY QUEEN CHARGED IN EX-NFL HUSBAND’S MURDER PLOT
The complaint further alleges Cordrey later told the undercover agent that Gonzalez wanted Avery killed, that he had helped arrange the plot and that “the father,” allegedly referring to Francisco Gonzalez, “still wanted it done and could pay.”
“This is a case where the defendants are accused of going to great lengths to find someone to commit murder,” Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman said in a statement. “Most fathers raise their children to respect the law, but here we have a dad who allegedly helped his daughter and her boyfriend break the law in the most sinister way imaginable.”
LISTEN TO THE NEW ‘CRIME & JUSTICE WITH DONNA ROTUNNO’ PODCAST
Investigative records cited by FOX 35 Orlando allege Francisco Gonzalez became “deeply involved” in the custody dispute, including by allegedly hiring a private investigator to surveil Avery in hopes of finding evidence of drinking, smoking or other behavior that could be used against him in court.
SAVANNAH CHRISLEY BLAMES SPLIT FROM BOYFRIEND ON EX-WIFE WHO ALLEGEDLY TRIED TO HAVE HIM KILLED
The outlet also reported investigators accused Gonzalez of threatening to have Avery arrested during visitation exchanges and attempting to involve a law enforcement contact in the dispute.
GOT A TIP?
TMZ reported that one witness allegedly recalled Francisco Gonzalez remarking that “it would be cheaper if Jack were dead.”
Gonzalez, who built a large social media following posting motherhood, travel and lifestyle content online, was arrested last week in Humboldt County, California, while allegedly preparing to board a flight, TMZ reported.
FOLLOW US ON X
Jail and arrest records reviewed by Fox News Digital show Gonzalez is being held without bail in Los Angeles County, while her father was arrested May 18 at his Lake Mary home on a California fugitive warrant tied to the alleged murder-for-hire plot. Records identify Gonzalez as a lawyer with Gonzalez Law Firm.
During his first court appearance in Florida, Francisco Gonzalez’s attorney said he planned to waive extradition and return to California to face the charges, FOX 35 Orlando reported.
GET BREAKING NEWS BY EMAIL
All three defendants are charged with attempted murder, conspiracy to commit murder and solicitation of murder. Prosecutors recommended bail be set at $2 million for each defendant.
LIKE WHAT YOU’RE READING? FIND MORE ON THE TRUE CRIME HUB
The alleged plot left Avery fearing for his life, according to both court filings and prior public comments.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE US NEWS
“I stayed in my house for a month straight. I didn’t leave. I was so scared looking out my window every night,” Avery said during a September appearance on the “Zach Sang Show.”
Avery has since filed for a restraining order against Gonzalez and is seeking sole custody of their daughter, according to filings cited by TMZ. The filings allege Avery claimed Gonzalez “attempted to kill me by hiring a hit man.”
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP
The investigation was initially launched by the FBI before being turned over to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office Major Crimes Division.
Authorities have not yet explained why arrests in the case came years after the alleged murder-for-hire plot allegedly unfolded.
It was not immediately clear if any of the suspects had retained attorneys.
