The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office has taken significant legal action against Gabriela Gonzalez, a social media influencer, along with her father, Francisco Gonzalez, and former boyfriend, Faron Cordrey. They face charges related to a conspiracy to kill Jack Avery, a former boy band singer, during a custody dispute in 2020. Key charges include attempted murder, conspiracy to commit murder, and solicitation of murder.
District Attorney Nathan Hochman highlighted the role of the FBI in initiating the investigation. The case was subsequently transferred to L.A. County prosecutors. Hochman stated, “This is a case where the defendants are accused of going to great lengths to find someone to commit murder.” CBS News obtained court documents which reveal that witnesses reported Gabriela Gonzalez expressing a strong desire for Avery’s death, discussing hiring a hitman.
The alleged plot involved making Avery’s death appear as though it resulted from an accident or shooting. Gabriela Gonzalez is accused of asking Cordrey to explore the dark web to hire a hitman to murder Avery between 2020 and 2021. Francisco Gonzalez allegedly provided Cordrey with $10,000 to finance the hiring of a hitman, who was in fact an undercover FBI agent.
Hochman commented on the involvement of Francisco Gonzalez, stating, “Most fathers raise their children to respect the law, but here we have a dad who allegedly helped his daughter and her boyfriend break the law in the most sinister way imaginable.” According to the DA’s office, Francisco Gonzalez sent an additional $4,000 two months later when the supposed hitman requested more money.
Prosecutors detailed a conversation between Cordrey and an undercover law enforcement officer, who posed as a hitman, discussing the murder-for-hire plot in September 2021. Discussions included payment and verification of Avery’s death, with Cordrey reportedly identifying Avery as the target. Cordrey allegedly informed the undercover officer that Gabriela Gonzalez wanted the hit carried out, and her father was willing to finance it.
Jack Avery, in a podcast interview last year, reflected on an FBI visit to his home where he was alerted, “Someone hired someone to kill me.” Should the defendants be convicted as charged, they each face the prospect of 25 years to life in state prison.
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