The FBI, Bryan Police Department and U.S. Attorney’s Office announced this morning that a Florida man was arrested and charged in federal court with attempting to hire someone to murder a social worker.

David Culver, 35, of Fountain, Florida, was charged with one count of use of interstate facilities for murder for hire. He was arrested in Bryan, Ohio, and is scheduled to appear in U.S. District Court in Toledo on Monday at 12:30 p.m.

According to an affidavit filed in the case:

On May 16, the Bryan Police Department received information from an individual identified in court documents as C1 that Culver wanted to have a social worker murdered.

Culver was previously convicted of endangering children and is classified as sex offender. C1 stated Culver has family in Bryan. C1 understood the targeted social worker was involved in an investigation which resulted in the removal of Culver from his children.

Culver texted C1 on May 15: “I did move to Florida, I came back up here an ram into some shit.  But do u still have any contacts with some bad people?  I need a huge favor.”  C1 responded, “Like?” and “I can get them.”  Culver’s telephone replied, “I need to get rid of some ASAP.”  C1 asked, “Rid as in how?”  Culver’s telephone responded, “None breathing.”  C1 asked, “What happen.”  Culver’s telephone replied, “I’ll call u here in a little while and we can talk then over the phone.” 

Culver agreed to pay $1,000 to have the social worker murdered. Culver sent a screenshot with the name of a child protective service’s investigator assigned to the case involving Culver.

On May 18, an undercover Bryan police officer posing as a hitman with Culver at the McDonalds restaurant in Bryan. Culver confirmed he had money and referenced the targeted woman as the person responsible for taking his kids. When asked what kind of proof Culver was looking for to confirm the job was completed, Culver referenced wanting a photo and said he wants her to disappear, according to the affidavit.

Culver provided the undercover officer $200 as down payment for the hit and was taken into custody.

If convicted, the defendants’ sentence will be determined by the Court after review of factors unique to this case, including the defendants’ prior criminal records, if any, the defendants’ role in the offense and the characteristics of the violations.  In all cases, the sentence will not exceed the statutory maximum and, in most cases, it will be less than the maximum.

A charge is only an accusation and is not evidence of guilt.  The burden of proof is always on the government to prove a defendant guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.