A Chicago man accused of placing a bounty on the life of Border Patrol Commander Gregory Bovino was found not guilty by a jury on Thursday. The verdict came just before 4 p.m., following a deliberation that began earlier that day at 12:45 p.m. after the jury had heard closing arguments throughout the morning.
The case centered around the defendant, Juan Espinoza Martinez, and whether he genuinely intended to commit murder for hire, or if he was merely engaging in local gossip, as his defense team argued. Defense attorney Dena Singer emphasized the lack of concrete evidence, stating, “The government wants you to convict based on Snapchat messages sent to a physically challenged friend and his own brother. That’s it. That’s their entire case. No money exchanged hands, no weapon, just words.”
Prosecutors, represented by first assistant U.S. attorney Jason Yonan, pointed to a Snapchat message sent by Espinoza Martinez on October 2. This message, which suggested a monetary offer of $2,000 for information on Bovino and $10,000 for his death, was presented as clear evidence of intent. Moreover, the message included a reference to the Latin Kings gang, hinting at a dangerous affiliation.
However, the government faced significant challenges in proving its case. The key witness for the prosecution, who confirmed receipt of the message, offered little additional insight. Furthermore, there was an absence of corroborating evidence to support accusations of an organized murder-for-hire scheme. The prosecution’s failure to establish that Espinoza Martinez took a substantial step toward committing such a crime ultimately undermined their case.
Espinoza Martinez’s lawyer countered the allegations by questioning the motivations attributed to his client, asserting, “Just because he didn’t like the ICE raids doesn’t mean he tried to get Bovino killed.” This perspective resonated with the jury, leading to the acquittal of the 37-year-old union carpenter, who has no prior criminal record and arrived in the United States as a young child.
The trial, which unfolded at Chicago’s Dirksen Federal Courthouse, marked a significant moment for the U.S. Attorney’s Office, being the first case related to “Operation Midway Blitz” to advance to trial. Nevertheless, the verdict presents a setback for the government, which has already seen a decline in non-immigration cases associated with the operation.
Ultimately, this outcome highlights the complexities involved in prosecuting alleged conspiracy cases, especially when direct evidence is scarce. The jury’s decision underscores the importance of substantive proof in establishing intent and taking decisive action against alleged threats.