Butcher Seeks Hit Man for Rival Butcher

Earlier this year, Javier Acosta-Caudillo, 37, of Woodstock was asked by a local butcher to help him eliminate a competitor by having the other butcher killed, according to a press release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

Authorities were alerted when Acosta told a friend that he needed help finding a hit man. The friend then reported the plan to the . After several conversations, sheriff’s deputies told the friend to tell Acosta that he had found someone to help him, according to the release.

The person who was supposed to help him was an undercover agent. After several conversations and one in-person meeting, Acosta told the officer that the target of the hit was trying to steal some of his employer’s business. The two agreed on a contract price of $5,000 with $3,000 paid up front.

Acosta eventually stopped returning the officer’s calls and was confronted by the FBI. Acosta originally denied knowing about the murder-for-fire, meeting the officer or agreeing to pay him $5,000.

After he was arrested on state false statement charges, Acosta asked to meet with the FBI again and admitted that he had lied to them the first time. He admitted that he had tried to hire the officer to kill the rival butcher, although he continued to say he never knew the identity of the intended victim. 

Earlier today in a federal court, Acosta admitted to lying to the FBI, and said he had been working at a food outlet in Woodstock at the time of the incident, according to the release.

Acosta’s sentencing will be in early December when he faces up to five years in prison for false statements to agents and officers. He is also subject to deportation. 

The investigation is ongoing.