By Alan Duke, CNN
Los Angeles, California (CNN) — A former Food Network chef accused of a murder-for-hire plot was “very meticulous,” but also “very cheap,” according to one of the three homeless men involved.
The plan fell apart when one of the homeless men who Juan-Carlos Cruz, the former host of “Calorie Commando,” allegedly recruited told Santa Monica Police, authorities said.
Cruz, 48, is being held on $5 million bail on a charge of solicitation to commit murder. He is expected to make a first appearance in court on Monday.
While Santa Monica Police released few details about the case, Sgt. Jay Trisler did confirm that three men interviewed by celebrity news and gossip website TMZ are the chief witnesses against Cruz.
The men — identified only as Big Dave, Little Dave and Shane — told TMZ that Cruz wanted them to kill his wife.
Little Dave said he was approached first and he immediately told his two friends Big Dave and Shane, who helped him communicate with Cruz.
Little Dave told a Santa Monica Police officer about the plot after he was arrested for loitering, he said.
“We’re very fortunate that we have a relationship and rapport with some of the homeless and that they were able to give us information,” Trisler said.
Santa Monica police began their undercover investigation of Cruz on May 7, Trisler said.
Cruz was arrested at a dog park in the Cheviot Hills neighborhood of Los Angeles Thursday afternoon, Trisler said.
Big Dave, Little Dave and Shane got a place to stay during the week the investigation was under way. Santa Monica Police put them in a hotel room to keep them out of sight, Big Dave said.
“They gave us two pizzas, a 12-pack of beer and a bottle of San Jose,” he said. “I love them.”
Cruz, a Los Angeles resident, was an overweight pastry chef at Hotel Bel Air until he changed his focus to promote low-calorie recipes.
When his “Calorie Countdown” show debuted on the Food Network in 2004, he said he had lost 100 pounds by eating his own cooking.
He wrote “The Juan-Carlos Cruz Calorie Countdown Cookbook: A 5-Week Eating Strategy for Sustainable Weight Loss,” which was published in 2007.