Fraud Friday – Woman Allegedly Hired a Hitman with PPP Loan Proceeds

February 18, 2022

Delaney Sexton
Contributing Editor

Fraud Friday – Woman Allegedly Hired a Hitman with PPP Loan Proceeds

Jasmine Martinez – Source: St. Lucie County Sheriff’s Office

“This is a case that not only devastated the family but devastated the community. The Miami Dade Police Department will not stop until we bring closure to all families affected by senseless acts of violence,” says Detective Jonathan Grossman from the Miami Dade Police Department’s Homicide Bureau.

Jasmine Martinez received a $15,000 PPP loan in April 2021 for her single-employee beauty salon. Officials are unsure if Martinez owns a beauty salon, and federal authorities could potentially pursue fraud charges related to the PPP loan. Days before the murder of a Miami TSA officer, Le’Shonte Jones, Jasmine withdrew $10,000 from her bank accounts. It is alleged that the $10,000 was used to hire a hitman, Javon Carter.

Javon Carter – Source: Miami-Dade Police Department

The murder took place on May 3, 2021, in front of Le’Shonte Jones’ home where she was pronounced dead at the scene. Her daughter, who was walking home with Le’Shonte, was airlifted to a hospital following the shooting.

Prior to the murder, there was a history of Jasmine assaulting and attacking Le’Shonte over the course of five years:

2016: Jasmine is arrested on a battery charge after striking Le’Shonte.
2018: Jasmine is arrested for beating up Le’Shonte.
2020: Le’Shonte was attacked in the parking lot of Miami’s criminal courthouse by Jasmine’s ex-boyfriend, Kelly Nelson, for testifying against Martinez for the 2018 assault. Le’Shonte reported that she was held at gunpoint and robbed.

After the 2020 attack, Martinez formed a plan to threaten, intimidate, and eventually murder Jones for cooperating with prosecutors. The investigation found records of jail phone calls that took place between Martinez and Nelson in early 2021. It is said that Martinez told Kelly Nelson in these calls that Jones needed to die.

Phone records also found that Jasmine’s current boyfriend, Romiel Robinson, helped her connect with Javon Carter to set up the hit. Police say that cell records found Carter in Le’Shonte Jones’ apartment complex on two separate days before the murder to allegedly surveil her. Found on Carter’s phone from the day of the shooting, there was a video of him counting cash saying, “Just another day at the office.”

Jasmine is in county jail without a bond and facing charges of conspiracy to commit first-degree murder, first-degree murder, and attempted first-degree murder.

Sources:
Miami Herald Article
Miami-Dade Police Department Segment – Facebook
St. Lucie County Sheriff’s Office – Inmate Profile
NBC Miami Article