Jury to Hear Closings in Alleged Snapchat Murder‑for‑Hire Plot Targeting Border Patrol Commander Greg Bovino
Jury will hear closing arguments in the federal trial of Juan Espinoza Martinez in Chicago, accused of an alleged murder‑for‑hire plot against Border Patrol Commander Greg Bovino based largely on Snapchat messages offering $2,000 for information and “10k if u take him down” alongside a photo that were sent to his brother and to informant Adrian Jimenez, who testified he reported them to Homeland Security. Judge Joan Lefkow barred prosecutors from portraying Martinez as a “ranking member” of the Latin Kings; the defense, which rested without calling Martinez, says the messages were neighborhood gossip, jokes or anger about immigration policy rather than a real plot.
📌 Key Facts
- Juan Espinoza Martinez is on trial in federal court in Chicago accused in an alleged murder‑for‑hire plot targeting Border Patrol commander Gregory (Greg) Bovino.
- Prosecutors and the defense delivered opening statements Wednesday; U.S. District Judge Joan Lefkow sent jurors home and scheduled closing arguments for Thursday before handing the case to the jury.
- Key evidence are Snapchat messages allegedly sent by Espinoza Martinez to his brother and to a man who turned out to be a government informant offering $2,000 for information on Bovino’s whereabouts and "10k if u take him down," sometimes accompanied by a photo of Bovino.
- Adrian Jimenez, a construction‑company owner who previously worked as a paid informant and has a prior felony conviction, testified he took the Snapchat messages seriously and forwarded them to a Homeland Security investigator.
- Judge Lefkow barred prosecutors from presenting Espinoza Martinez as a "ranking member" of the Latin Kings because of insufficient supporting evidence, limiting gang‑related testimony at trial.
- The defense argues the messages were "neighborhood gossip," jokes, and expressions of anger about immigration policy from a financially strapped carpenter (reported to have about $20 in his bank account), not a real murder plot.
- The defense rested without calling Espinoza Martinez to testify; Espinoza Martinez’s brother testified skepticism about the plot, saying, "Nobody’s going to do that for $10K."
📰 Source Timeline (3)
Follow how coverage of this story developed over time
January 22, 2026
1:04 AM
Border Patrol chief targeted in alleged murder-for-hire plot focused on Snapchat messages
New information:
- The defense has rested without calling defendant Juan Espinoza Martinez to testify.
- U.S. District Judge Joan Lefkow has sent jurors home and scheduled closing arguments for Thursday before handing the case to the jury.
- Testimony emphasized that Espinoza Martinez allegedly offered $2,000 for information on Commander Bovino’s whereabouts and $10,000 'if you take him down,' and that some messages included a photo of Bovino.
- Key prosecution witness Adrian Jimenez, a construction company owner, testified he took the Snapchat messages seriously and contacted a Homeland Security investigator, while acknowledging a prior felony conviction and prior paid informant work.
- The defense reiterated its argument that the messages were 'neighborhood gossip' and jokes about a rumored bounty, not a genuine plan, with Espinoza Martinez’s brother testifying 'Nobody’s going to do that for $10K.'
January 21, 2026
7:55 PM
Snapchats to informant central at trial for man accused in murder plot of Border Patrol leader
New information:
- Prosecutors and defense delivered opening statements in Juan Espinoza Martinez’s federal murder‑for‑hire trial on Wednesday in Chicago.
- Key evidence consists of Snapchat messages in which Espinoza Martinez allegedly wrote '10k if u take him down' alongside a picture of Border Patrol commander Gregory Bovino, sent to his brother and a man who turned out to be a government informant.
- The informant, construction‑company owner Adrian Jimenez, testified as the government’s first witness, saying he took the messages seriously and forwarded them to a Homeland Security investigator after previously working as a paid informant.
- Judge Joan Lefkow has barred prosecutors from presenting Espinoza Martinez as a 'ranking member' of the Latin Kings at trial due to lack of supporting evidence, limiting gang‑related testimony.
- The defense is arguing the messages were 'neighborhood gossip' and anger about immigration policy from a financially strapped carpenter with about $20 in his bank account, not a real murder plot.
January 20, 2026