‘Rambo’ mercenary Joseph Hunter, US Army sniper who became hired killer for Asian drug lord, gets life sentence for Philippines murder

Joseph Hunter, a former special forces soldier, was sentenced in New York for the ‘truly horrific’ killing of real property agent Catherine Lee in 2012

Hunter recruited two other American ex-soldiers to travel from North Carolina to the Philippines for what was called ‘ninja work’ – the killing of Lee

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In this September 26, 2013 file photo, US mercenary Joseph Hunter is led away by Thai police commandos after being arrested in Bangkok. Photo: AP

Published: 7:01am, 8 Mar 2019Updated: 7:01am, 8 Mar 2019

A former US soldier known as Rambo who became a mercenary for drug dealers in Southeast Asia has been sentenced to life in prison by a judge who cited his “truly horrific crimes.”

Joseph Hunter, a one-time sergeant from Kentucky with a special forces background, was sentenced Thursday by US District Judge Ronnie Abrams in Manhattan.

She said he carried out his crimes, including arranging the 2012 murder of a real property agent in the Philippines, for money.

The life prison sentence was mandatory. Hunter, listed with the alias “Rambo” in an indictment, is serving a 20-year prison term after another conviction.

Paul Le Roux, an international drug and arms smuggler, who paid three former US soldiers to kill Philippines property agent Catherine Lee in 2012. Photo: Handout

Prosecutors say Hunter tortured, kidnapped and killed people for years along with other former soldiers.