FLINT, MI – Two males are accused of providing upward of $100,000 in cryptocurrency “in trade for specified acts of aggression and bodily hurt” to one in every of their enterprise companions between June and July 2021, acts that vary from burning property related to the person to killing him.

Joshua Ray Barrett and Steven Christopher Craven are every charged with one depend of solicitation of homicide, a felony punishable by imprisonment for all times or any time period of years.

Each males have been arraigned on April 13 in Genesee County District Court docket, the place they pleaded not responsible to their expenses.

Craven, of Burton, overtly provided growing quantities of cryptocurrency relying on the severity of bodily hurt inflicted upon the sufferer, with the best payout being for inflicting loss of life and a lesser quantity for inflicting “nice bodily hurt,” in response to statements contained in a Michigan State Police report. MLive-The Flint Journal obtained these data via a Freedom of Data Act request.

Barrett, of Brighton, was current for lots of the conversations by which Craven provided others cash, in response to the reviews.

Michael Ewing, Craven’s lawyer, stated the case features a “surprising lack of proof.”

“The one and solely witness had an axe to grind with Mr. Craven and his enterprise accomplice,” Ewing instructed MLive-The Flint Journal. “After they acquired a PPO in opposition to the witness, these allegations appeared from skinny air.”

Messages left for Kevin Nagle, an lawyer for Barrett, in addition to the Genesee County Prosecutor’s Workplace weren’t instantly returned.

The sufferer first spoke with MSP troopers on the MSP Flint Submit in January. He was a longtime enterprise accomplice of Craven’s, having labored with him at a property administration firm, a fertilizer firm and a membership.

In line with a abstract of the dialog he had with troopers, the sufferer instructed authorities that two males he’d by no means met earlier than had been wanting to fulfill with him and have been in concern for his security as a result of his “life could possibly be in jeopardy.”

He instructed police he’d been instructed that Craven had instructed loosening the lug nuts on his automobile, that Craven had instructed folks he needed the sufferer to be put into the hospital, and {that a} fee construction had been developed to find out how a lot cash can be paid out relying on the quantity of hurt executed to the sufferer.

“(Witness) instructed him Craven provided him cryptocurrency to ‘take him out,’” MSP D/Sgt. Jonathan Miller wrote in a report describing the dialog he had with the sufferer.

“It will be the best $15,000 he ever made”

In January, a witness spoke with MSP Trp. Taylore Drye, saying there have been a number of events between June and July 2021 by which Craven and Barrett solicited help in burning down a enterprise affiliated with the sufferer.

The witness described the 2 males as “companions in crime” who have been closely concerned within the Michigan hemp and medical marijuana industries, in response to statements made to MSP investigators.

The 2 males had business-related tensions with the sufferer that had existed for a really very long time. He described two cases the place cash was exchanged for hurt to the sufferer. In mid-June 2021, Craven approached one particular person within the presence of Barrett and provided to pay $15,000 in bitcoin or XRP cryptocurrency to burn a redacted property affiliated with the sufferer.

When the particular person declined the provide, Craven requested if he knew another person who would have an interest, including he had a particular plan of motion for efficiently burning the property down.

Craven provided to drive the person down a close-by aspect avenue and stated it might be the “best $15,000 he ever made.”

The witness instructed MSP about overhearing a second dialog referring to the alleged solicitation for homicide in July 2021. The person stated he overheard Craven inform an unknown particular person on the telephone, “for 25, get one thing executed with him.”

On Jan. 11, one other witness instructed MSP that Barrett had beforehand stated he had individuals who have been ex-military who may take folks out for him by “having them executed.”

“(Witness) felt that if the chance arose and so they felt they may get away with it, the plan to hurt (the sufferer) would transfer ahead, and Craven and Barrett would both ‘burn him out or take his life,’” the detective wrote, summarizing an interview between himself and the witness.

Craven and Barrett have been arrested on April 12 and lodged on the Genesee County Jail.

Each males are at the moment free on private recognizance bonds. Stipulations of their bond require them to keep away from contact with one another, contact with the sufferer within the case, to not possess or buy firearms or ammunition and places them underneath a 24-hour curfew.

Craven is also on a GPS tether.

A preliminary examination is scheduled for each males on June 3.

Learn extra at The Flint Journal:

Trio charged in reference to Genesee County unlawful playing facility face June sentencing date

Former Burton cop ordered to pay again over $3,100 in embezzlement case

MSP points search warrant for Genesee County dwelling as a part of Operation Sweet Man