Former Food Network Chef Juan-Carlos Cruz Arrested

May 15, 2010 10:06 AM EDT

Former Food Network chef Juan-Carlos Cruz was arrested in Santa Monica, California, after allegedly trying to pay homeless people in the community to commit a murder.

Members of the local homeless community approached their city's liason and explained that Juan-Carlos Cruz had asked them to kill a person for pay.

Juan-Carlos Cruz hosted "Calorie Commando" and "Weighing In;" both shows on the Food Network.

The target of Cruz’s alleged plot is known to police, but remains unidentified.

Juan-Carlos Cruz is being held on $5 million bail.

I find it deplorable that someone would approach homeless people to do their dirty work. That means assuming that even though one is down on their luck and without a home, that they would stoop to an unfathomable low for monetary gain. In addition to the criminal mind set of even thinking about murder, such a move involving the homeless makes such an act even more heinous.

It will be interesting to see what additional facts come out of the arrest of former Food Network chef Juan-Carlos Cruz regarding his recent arrest.