Overview
- A federal grand jury on Oct. 15 returned a one-count indictment charging Juan Espinoza Martinez with solicitation of murder-for-hire carrying up to 10 years in prison.
- The indictment alleges he used an Apple Model 16 phone and Snapchat to seek a killing, satisfying the interstate-commerce element of the federal charge.
- Earlier filings described Snapchat messages offering “2k on information” and “10k if u take him down” and included a photo of a senior Border Patrol official identified in reporting as Chief Gregory Bovino.
- The Oct. 5 complaint claimed Martinez was a Latin Kings leader, but the new indictment does not mention gang affiliation, though prosecutors could pursue such allegations later.
- Martinez remains in federal custody after prosecutors said he is not a U.S. citizen, with an arraignment set for Oct. 17, as DHS officials warn of broader threats and his attorney denies gang ties and asserts his innocence.