Complaint: US V Fausto Villar
Complaint: US V Fausto Villar
Complaint: US V Fausto Villar
v.
FAUSTO R. VILLAR,
Defendant.
____________________________________/
1. Did this matter originate from a matter pending in the Northern Region of the United States
Attorney=s Office prior to August 8, 2014 (Mag. Judge Shaniek M. Maynard)? No.
2. Did this matter originate from a matter pending in the Central Region of the United States
Attorney=s Office prior to October 3, 2019 (Mag. Judge Jared M. Strauss)? No.
3. Did this matter involve the participation of or consultation with now Magistrate Judge
Eduardo I. Sanchez during his tenure at the U.S. Attorney’s Office, which concluded on
January 22, 2023? No.
4. Did this matter involve the participation of or consultation now Magistrate Judge Marty
Fulgueira Elfenbein during her tenure at the U.S. Attorney’s Office, which concluded on
March 5, 2024? No.
Respectfully submitted,
MARKENZY LAPOINTE
UNITED STATES ATTORNEY
By: ___________________________
________________________
Abbie D.
D Waxman
Assistant United States Attorney
Florida Bar No.: 109315
U.S. Attorney’s Office
99 N.E. 4th Street, Miami, FL 33132
Tel: (305) 961-9240
Abbie.Waxman@usdoj.gov
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CRIMINAL COMPLAINT%<7(/(3+21(2527+(55(/,$%/((/(&7521,&0($16
I, the complainant in this case, state that the following is true to the best of my knowledge and belief.
On or about the date(s) of November 2023 through July 2024 in the county of Miami-Dade in the
Southern District of Florida , the defendant(s) violated:
Badge 100722
Complainant’s signature
Face Time
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City and state: Miami, Florida Honorable Marty Fulgueira Elfenbein, United States Magistrate Judge
Printed name and title
AFFIDAVIT IN SUPPORT OF CRIMINAL COMPLAINT
Your Affiant, Conor S. Goepel, being duly sworn, deposes and states as follows:
assigned to the Violent Crimes/Fugitive Task Force in the Miami Division. I have been an FBI
Special Agent since September 2021 and have been assigned to the Miami Division since February
2022. I am an investigative or law enforcement officer of the United States within the meaning of
Title 18, United States Code, Section 2510(7), in that I am empowered by law to conduct
investigations of, and to make arrests for, federal offenses. As a Special Agent for the FBI, my
duties involve the investigation of a variety of violations of federal offenses, including, but not
limited to, bank robberies, Hobbs Act robberies, extortion, and murder for hire.
2. I am currently a member of the South Florida Violent Crime Task Force. As part
of my professional duties and responsibilities, I have become familiar with the investigative
methods and enforcement of violent crimes pertaining to state and federal laws. I have also
become versed in methodologies and practices employed by individuals and groups who commit
violent crimes.
3. The facts contained in this Affidavit are based on my personal knowledge and
information provided to me by other law enforcement officers. This Affidavit is being submitted
for the limited purpose of establishing probable cause for the proposed complaint, and as such does
not contain every fact known to me. I respectfully submit that based upon the facts presented
below, that there is probable cause to believe that Fausto R. VILLAR committed the offenses of
Murder for Hire, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1958; Stalking, in Violation
of Title 18, United States Code, Section 2261A(2); Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a
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Crime of Violence, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 924(c); and Obstruction
of Justice, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1503 and 2.
PROBABLE CAUSE
Background
4. Since July of 2022, law enforcement has been investigating Sergio Pino for
orchestrating multiple contracts to kill his estranged wife (“Victim 1”) and her sister, both residents
of Miami-Dade County. Events surrounding the contracts to kill Victim 1 include, but are not
limited to, more than one attempt to poison Victim 1, two separate vehicle arsons at Victim 1’s
sister’s residence, a hit and run at Victim 1’s residence in Pinecrest, Florida (hereinafter, “Victim
1’s Residence”), the mailing of a threatening letter to Victim 1, and an assault on Victim 1 and the
daughter of Pino and Victim 1 (“Victim 2”) with a firearm at Victim 1’s Residence, all occurring
since 2019 through June 2024. Law enforcement also discovered that Victim 1 had been poisoned
BENNETT, Jerren HOWARD, Michael DULFO, and Edner ETIENNE (hereinafter, “the
HOWARD Group”), for stalking, arson, and use of interstate facilities in aid of racketeering. See
its investigation, law enforcement learned that Pino contracted the HOWARD Group to conduct
the arsons and hit and run against Victim 1. Law enforcement also learned that Pino sought to
secure fentanyl from members of the HOWARD Group in furtherance of his efforts against Victim
1. Moreover, law enforcement learned that Pino solicited a price to kill Victim 1. After the arrest
of the HOWARD Group, law enforcement learned that Pino continued his murder for hire
conspiracy with a new group of individuals, which became visible on June 23, 2024.
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The Second Murder for Hire Effort
6. On June 23, 2024, at approximately 8:45 am, Victim 1, departed her residence in
her vehicle. At approximately 11:30 am, Victim 1 returned to her residence and momentarily idled
in her driveway while she waited for the gate on the west side of the house to open. As Victim 1
began to pull into the driveway, she observed a black male individual (later identified by law
enforcement as Vernon Green (“GREEN”)), brandishing a firearm and running toward her vehicle.
In fear for her safety, and in an attempt to get away, Victim 1 drove into her backyard, scraping
the sides of her car against a tree and a fence. Victim 1 continuously honked the horn of her car
as she attempted to get away. GREEN pursued on foot and ran into the backyard before he turned
around and ran back toward the front of Victim 1’s Residence.
7. During this time, Victim 1 and Pino’s daughter, Victim 2, was inside Victim 1’s
Residence when she heard a loud crash and a vehicle honking. Victim 2 exited the Residence and
ran toward the front of the house. As she reached the open gate, Victim 2 noticed a black pickup
truck parked on the street. GREEN, coming from the back of the house, ran up behind Victim 2
and pointed a firearm at Victim 2’s head. Upon GREEN’s approach, Victim 2 turned around and
saw GREEN as he pointed a pistol with a silver slide inches from her face. GREEN grabbed
Victim 2’s arm and told her to go back into the house. Victim 2 then ran back inside.
8. After Victim 2 fled, GREEN ran across the front yard of Victim 1’s Residence
toward the east side of the property. Moments later, GREEN turned back, ran across the yard, and
entered the back passenger side of a black Dodge Ram pickup truck (the “Dodge Ram”). The
Dodge Ram then rapidly departed the area, which reasonably indicates there was an additional
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9. Victim 1’s Residence is equipped with surveillance cameras affixed around the
property that captured the incident. The video footage shows the series of events that took place:
1) Victim 1 arriving at her residence; 2) the Dodge Ram as it arrives and stops next to Victim 1’s
Residence; 3) GREEN, wearing a light-colored t-shirt, shorts, yellow-colored boots, a beanie, and
a face covering, exiting the Dodge Ram’s back passenger side; and 4) GREEN running up to the
Victim 1 holding what appears to be a firearm in his right hand. The surveillance footage also
shows: Victim 1 driving her vehicle toward the backyard, while GREEN pursuing on foot. Lastly,
the video surveillance shows Victim 2 exit the residence and GREEN approaching Victim 2 from
10. Law enforcement canvassed Victim 1’s neighborhood and obtained video
surveillance footage showing that on June 23, 2024, the Dodge Ram arrived and parked
approximately one block east of Victim 1’s Residence. The Dodge Ram followed closely behind
a white Tesla (the “Tesla”), which continued west, passing Victim 1’s Residence. The video shows
the Tesla travel east, passing Victim 1’s Residence less than two minutes later. The Tesla then
continued east, passing the Dodge Ram, which then immediately departed as they both turned
north away from Victim 1’s Residence. The video then shows the Dodge Ram return to the same
spot where it had previously parked, where it did not depart until approximately 11:30 am, when
11. In my training and experience, it is common for criminals to use multiple cars to
commit crimes to carry multiple co-conspirators. In this case, the close proximity of the white
Tesla to the Dodge Ram over time, distance, and change of direction indicates a direct relationship
between the occupants of the Dodge Ram and the white Tesla.
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Identification and Movement of Vehicles
12. A further analysis of surveillance video obtained from the vicinity of Victim 1’s
Residence revealed Florida license plate DI0RI affixed to the rear of the Tesla. Information
obtained from the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, driver and vehicle
information database (“DAVID”) discloses that the license plate DI0RI is registered to Diori
in Miami, Florida.
residence. Parked outside the house was a white Chevrolet Tahoe, bearing Florida license plate
BN50WL. A DAVID query revealed the Tahoe is registered to BARNARD. Upon reviewing
license plate reader (“LPR”) images, on May 3, 2024, an LPR collected an image of BARNARD’s
residence that captured the white Tahoe next to a black Dodge Ram with chrome bumpers, similar
in description to the Dodge Ram seen around Victim 1’s Residence on June 23, 2024. In this image,
14. On the afternoon of June 24, 2024, FBI surveillance recovered the Dodge Ram,
with Florida license plate BP16UV, abandoned in the vicinity of SW 70th Avenue and SW 80th
Street nearby Victim 1’s Residence. Law enforcement observed an after-market LED light affixed
to the Dodge Ram’s front bumper, in the same place as the one seen on the Dodge Ram at
BARNARD’s residence. The vehicle identification number (“VIN”) associated with the Dodge
perpetrators of violent crimes often use a stolen vehicle to commit the crime, and an additional
vehicle, in this case the white Tesla, to attempt to avoid detection and escape the scene of the
crime.
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15. Law enforcement queried for stolen vehicles and received an Orange County
Sheriff’s Department (FL) report stating that the Dodge Ram was stolen in the vicinity of Orlando,
Florida, in the early morning hours of March 31, 2024. Also contained in that report, “S.H.,” the
owner of the Dodge Ram, stated the vehicle can be differentiated from similar models, by an LED
16. Florida License Plate BP16UV, also reported stolen, is associated with a 2013
orange Toyota Corolla. 1 Law enforcement located and interviewed, “A.O.,” the owner associated
with Florida tag BP16UV. Upon locating A.O., his vehicle, a blue Dodge Ram, was parked in the
lot with Florida license plate 85BMPA affixed to the rear. A.O. acknowledged the current plate on
his truck was not his and he had no knowledge of how that plate got on his vehicle. A.O. told law
enforcement that he had recently visited a Walmart. Law enforcement photographed and seized
the plate for processing. In my training and experience, perpetrators of crimes involving vehicles
will try to avoid detection by using stolen vehicles and switching the license plate affixed to a
17. An LPR review of Florida plate 85BMPA revealed that on June 19, 2024, at 8:41
pm, A.O.’s blue Dodge Ram was parked at a Walmart in Miami, Florida. An LPR review also
documented a Mazda C-30, parked in the same Walmart at 8:42 pm. A review of the Walmart
surveillance footage showed the white Tesla driving with the Mazda C-30 and pulling up to the
blue Dodge Ram. Based on the driving pattern, parking location, and time spent in the parking lot
without entering the store, it is reasonable to believe that the occupants of the white Tesla and
1
It should be noted that during the interview of the owners of the blue Dodge Ram and orange
Toyota Corolla, it was discovered that they have two license plates (BP16UV and BP13UV) that
were improperly affixed to their vehicles.
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occupants of the Mazda C-30 worked together to steal a license plate off of a similar make, model,
and color vehicle in order to place the mis-attributable license plate on the Dodge Ram.
18. On June 24, 2024, FBI located and seized the white Tesla with the license plate
“DI0RI” affixed to the rear of the vehicle. A sealed federal search warrant was obtained, and on
June 25, 2024, law enforcement extracted footage recorded by the Tesla’s onboard computer
system, which included multiple cameras capturing exterior footage. Footage revealed the white
Tesla parked in the driveway of BARNARD’s residence parked next to the black Dodge Ram
matching the description of the Dodge Ram used in the Target Offense. The footage also showed
Clementa Johnson (“JOHNSON”) as he was getting in and out of the passenger side of the Dodge
Ram. Footage also revealed JOHNSON entering the driver’s side and departing in a light-colored
Mazda C-30.
19. On or about June 24, 2024, BARNARD was arrested pursuant to a criminal
20. Seminole Hard Rock Casino (“Hard Rock Casino”) advised law enforcement that
JOHNSON had an active player account with the casino. Further, surveillance footage from Hard
Rock Casino shows that on June 21, 2024, at 8:40 am. JOHNSON arrived alone in a light-colored
Mazda C-30, bearing Florida license plate 95BKCV (the “Mazda C-30”). The Mazda C-30’s VIN
is 3MVDMBDM1RM648633 and is the vehicle is registered to P.V. Holding Corp, a car rental
company. The Hard Rock Casino surveillance footage also shows that JOHNSON departed the
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21. Records check at P.V. Holding Corp, revealed that the Mazda C-30 was rented on
June 14, 2024, to Diori BARNARD. This vehicle was scheduled to be returned on June 21, 2024,
22. A review of LPR database checks for the Mazda C-30 license plate revealed its
location on June 21, 2024, at 7:56:52 pm, in the vicinity of Victim 1’s residence. The Mazda C-30
was immediately behind the stolen Dodge Ram which hit the LPR at 7:56:57 pm. This location is
23. Additional LPR records indicate that on June 22, 2024, the Mazda C-30 is recorded
by the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office, Key Largo South LPR, located immediately over the
Route 1 bridge onto Key Largo. In an interview with Victim 1, law enforcement learned that she
was in Key Largo on the evening of June 22, 2024, with a reservation to stay at Baker’s Cay Resort
(“Resort”). On June 28, 2024, pursuant to a sealed federal search warrant of the Dodge Ram law
enforcement searched the black Dodge Ram and recovered a Resort valet pass with an arrival date
of June 22, 2024, and a departure date of June 26, 2024. Law enforcement reviewed security
footage provided by the Resort and observed the Dodge Ram and BARNARD’s white Tahoe
follow Victim 1 into the Resort’s parking area through the Resort’s front gate.
24. On June 28, 2024, pursuant to a sealed federal search warrant, law enforcement
obtained BARNARD’s historical cell site data from his provider. Upon review of these records,
law enforcement learned that BARNARD called JOHNSON on the evening of June 22, 2024,
while in the vicinity of Victim 1’s Residence. On June 23, 2024, prior to driving the white Tesla
JOHNSON upon the white Tesla and the Dodge Ram’s arrival outside of Victim 1’s Residence.
JOHNSON, BARNARD, and additional unidentified phone numbers then appear to join a group
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phone call shortly thereafter while the Dodge Ram and the white Tesla are down the street from
Victim 1’s Residence. Based on my training and experience, I believe that the timing of this phone
call in conjunction with the sequence of events as observed on residential surveillance footage
indicates that the individuals inside the vehicles were coordinating their eventual attack on Victim
1. In my training and experience, this coordination and the dependence upon cellular devices to
communicate during the course of the murder for hire plot establishes that they conspired to use a
facility of interstate or foreign commerce and did use a facility of interstate and foreign commerce
25. On or about July 1, 2024, JOHNSON was arrested by law enforcement pursuant to
a criminal complaint. See Case No. 24-mj-03324-Goodman. Law enforcement later learned the
following about the plot to kill Victim 1 that led to the June 23, 2024 assault with a firearm: 1)
JOHNSON was hired to murder Victim 1 by Avery BIVINS; 2) BIVINS had been asked by a male
he met in prison known to him as “Cuba,” to murder VICTIM 1, and Cuba was acting on behalf
of Victim 1’s estranged husband, Pino; 3) Cuba told BIVINS to make it look clean; 4) Cuba’s real
name was unknown, but it was believed that he was stocky, the owner of a roofing company, and
driving a grey Dodge Ram; and 4) GREEN was the gunman. GREEN was arrested pursuant to
26. A law enforcement analyst reviewed Pino’s historical WhatsApp call records made
to and from Pino’s device and isolated a call on June 21, 2024, by telephone number (786) 260-
2876. Based on a law enforcement database search, subscriber information for this cellular
telephone came back to Fausto Villar (“VILLAR”). VILLAR’s wife is the owner of Evalution
Roofing LLC and VILLAR is the registered owner of a 2024 grey Dodge Ram. VILLAR’s Dodge
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Ram has been photographed with an Evalution Roofing LLC magnet affixed to the side of the
vehicle. Further law enforcement investigation revealed that VILLAR and BIVINS overlapped
terms of imprisonment during the years 2012 - 2016 in the Florida Department of Corrections.
This previously learned information that VILLAR met BIVINS while serving a prison
sentence. Additionally, during the month of June 2024, VILLAR made sixteen WhatsApp calls
27. On July 8, 2024, law enforcement obtained a sealed federal search warrant for
28. On Friday, July 12, 2024, law enforcement contacted BIVINS who voluntarily
agreed to meet with law enforcement under the advice of counsel. Law enforcement explained that
29. Law enforcement later learned the following about the plot to kill Victim 1 that led
to the June 23, 2024 assault with a firearm: 1) BIVINS knew VILLAR as “Cuba” and that they
knew each other from state prison and they remained in contact after their release; 2) VILLAR
contacted BIVINS in or around October or November 2023 about a wealthy man (later identified
as Pino) who contracted him to kill his estranged wife (Victim 1); 3) VILLAR enlisted BIVINS to
gather a group for the job; 4) according to VILLAR, Victim 1 wanted half of what Pino owned
and would not settle for the offered 20 million dollars; and 5) BIVINS contacted JOHNSON to
kill Victim 1. JOHNSON researched Victim 1 and Pino and explained to BIVINS how much
30. VILLAR and BIVINS met multiple time and BIVINS accepted the murder contract.
Law enforcement learned that Pino was willing to pay $150,000 for the murder contract’s
completion and there would be an additional $150,000 if the contract was carried out without
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detection. VILLAR also provided two cash payments of $30,000 and $45,000 up front during two
separate meetings. VILLAR provided syringes and vials to use during the execution of the murder
contract. BIVINS has connections to JOHNSON who brought on other individuals including
31. Law enforcement learned that VILLAR provided a deadline of June 24, 2024, to
kill Victim 1, to ensure that she could not make the next divorce proceeding between her and Pino.
JOHNSON and the others began stalking Victim 1 sometime after June 11, 2024. From June 19 to
23, 2024, JOHNSON and others stalked Victim 1 at several locations over multiple days. BIVINS
32. After the June 23, 2024, assault with a firearm, JOHNSON contacted BIVINS and
stated the job was completed. BIVINS relayed this information to VILLAR. Later that day,
VILLAR’s cellular device used a tower that services the area of Victim 1’s residence. VILLAR
then contacted BIVINS explaining that he saw law enforcement presence at Victim 1’s residence.
33. BIVINS met VILLAR three distinct times to collect the money syringes, and vials
containing an injectable substance. A comparison of the historical cellsite data between BIVINS
and VILLAR shows that they met on June 5, 2024, at approximately 7:30 pm; June 11, 2024, at
34. After BARNARD and JOHNSON’s arrests, BIVINS notified VILLAR of their
arrests. VILLAR expressed that “his boy,” (Pino) was worried about their arrests. VILLAR stated
he would contact Pino for money to cover their legal fees. Law enforcement learned that VILLAR
was using a burner telephone that they had been using to communicate since approximately June
2024.
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35. On July 12, 2024, law enforcement obtained a sealed federal search warrant for one
of VILLAR’s cellular telephone devices that included prospective cellular data. The information
obtained from this warrant provides law enforcement with live cellular tower usage of the device.
36. On July 15, 2024, law enforcement monitored a voluntarily recorded call between
BIVINS and VILLAR using their burner telephones. During the call, VILLAR impressed upon
BIVINS that they needed to cease contact and lay low until “the smoke clears.” VILLAR implied
to BIVINS that he could not get more money from Pino because law enforcement was monitoring
Pino. VILLAR instructed BIVINS to delete his Instagram, clear his phone logs, and to get rid of
his burner telephone. VILLAR talks about if the first attempts on Victim 1 get connected to the
attempt involved with BIVINS that they could be charged with conspiracy. VILLAR also
instructed BIVINS to make sure that the arrested individuals did not give up BIVINS and VILLAR
by making it seem like the robbery was a crime of opportunity. VILLAR tells BIVINS to “take
care of his people” and implies he needs to keep them in line and that there will be a gift afterward
for the two of them and the arrested individuals if they do so. VILLAR’s solicitation that BIVINS
falsely accept responsibility for a robbery, rather than a murder for hire is in accord with prior
efforts by Pino and his associates to use obstructive means to advance their illicit goals through
fraud and deceit. For comparison, this investigation has identified Pino’s solicitation of
individuals to burn his own car on September 7, 2023, shoot at his property, and provide false
37. Immediately after BIVINS and VILLAR’s recorded call, law enforcement
monitored the pen register trap and trace associated with Pino’s known cellular telephone number.
Law enforcement observed a WhatsApp call between VILLAR’s primary cellular device and
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Pino that lasted approximately three minutes and fifteen seconds. VILLAR and Pino also
38. Through pen register trap and trace as well as toll data, law enforcement learned
that throughout the course of the second murder for hire effort all subjects coordinated their efforts
using cellular devices that utilized a facility of interstate or foreign commerce. For example,
throughout the murder effort, data suggests there is a consistent and synchronized flow of
information beginning with Pino to VILLAR. That data continues to show VILLAR contacting
BIVINS who would then contact JOHNSON who then contacted GREEN, BARNARD, and
others. The same synchronized flow of information can be seen in reverse back to Pino. This flow
CONCLUSION
39. Based upon the foregoing, I submit that there is probable cause for the proposed
complaint charging VILLAR with the offenses of Murder for Hire, in violation of Title 18, United
States Code, Section 1958; Stalking, in Violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section
United States Code, Section 924(c); and Obstruction of Justice, in violation of Title 18, United
__________________________________________
HONORABLE MARTY FULGEIRA ELFENBEIN
UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE
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