Ex TV chef faces arraignment in murder-for-hire plot involving homeless people in Santa Monica

TV chef to face LA judge over alleged murder plot

LOS ANGELES — A former television chef suspected of recruiting homeless men for a murder plot is set to appear in a Los Angeles courtroom.

Arraignment is scheduled Monday for Juan-Carlos Cruz, who once hosted the show “Calorie Commando” on Food Network.

Santa Monica police say homeless people told the city’s homeless liason that Cruz approached them on the street and offered them money for a killing.

Police say they notified the intended target, but they have not released the person’s identity.

Once a pastry chef from LA’s Hotel Bel Air, Cruz gained fame promoting lowfat cooking after he slimmed down himself, and authored “The Juan-Carlos Cruz Calorie Countdown Cookbook.”

The 48-year-old was arrested Thursday and booked on suspicion of solicitation to commit murder. He was being held on $5 million bail.