Overview
- U.S. District Judge Joan Lefkow ruled prosecutors cannot present evidence or testimony that Juan Espinoza Martinez had ties or even an affinity to the Latin Kings.
- The court also barred references to his home being in so-called Latin King territory and rejected plans for a gang expert to educate jurors on the group.
- Prosecutors’ request to let a cooperating witness testify anonymously was denied, though the witness may describe how he received the messages and what he understood them to mean.
- Espinoza Martinez faces one count of solicitation of murder for hire tied to alleged Snapchat and text messages offering $2,000 for information and $10,000 for killing Gregory Bovino, accompanied by a photo and the term “LK.”
- Jury selection is set for Tuesday in Chicago in a case drawing national attention as the government’s ability to link the defendant to the Latin Kings has been substantially curtailed.