Investigators: DA foils murder-for-hire plot inside Westchester County Jail

Investigators say the Westchester district attorney foiled a murder-for-hire plot behind the bars of the Westchester County Jail, and authorities say a cellphone was hidden in the jailed suspect’s anus.

News 12 Staff

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May 23, 2019, 10:06 PM

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Updated 1,799 days ago

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Investigators say the Westchester district attorney foiled a murder-for-hire plot behind the bars of the Westchester County Jail, and authorities say a cellphone was hidden in the jailed suspect’s anus.

Authorities say Jason Garcia was able to conceal a cellphone in order to make calls and direct orders to kill a witness.

They say the eyewitness is a key in an attempted murder trial expected to start soon. It stems from a shooting in Mount Vernon in 2016.

Authorities say Garcia, a high-ranking member of the G-Shine Bloods gang, didn’t act alone. They say he conspired with his two girlfriends and recruited a fellow gang member to carry out the plot.

Officials say Garcia’s sophisticated plan began with concealing a tiny 2 ½ inch plastic cellphone – allegedly used to make calls, direct orders and arrange an illegal gun pickup to carry out the crime.

Authorities listened in to coded calls, but initially couldn’t find a phone.

"The DA's office obtained a court order for a X-ray of Garcia's body. At the time, the cellphone was found to be hidden in Garcia's anal canal.” - Westchester District Attorney Anthony Scarpino.

Authorities say during a visitation kiss, one of his girlfriends passed a charger to him.

All four have been indicted, facing several charges including attempted murder in the first degree. The witness remains in protective custody.

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