Chicago Carpenter's Snapchat Bounty Trial Goes to Federal Jury
The fate of a Chicago carpenter accused of circulating a $10,000 bounty on the life of a top Border Patrol commander through Snapchat now rests with a federal jury after closing arguments concluded on Thursday. Juan Espinoza Martinez, a 37-year-old resident of Chicago's Little Village neighbourhood, faces a single count of murder-for-hire in what represents the first criminal trial emerging from recent immigration enforcement operations in the Chicago area.
Prosecution's Case Centres on Snapchat Messages
At the heart of the government's prosecution are Snapchat messages allegedly sent by Espinoza Martinez to his younger brother and a friend who was later revealed to be a government informant. One message reportedly stated "10k if u take him down" alongside a photograph of Gregory Bovino, a Border Patrol official who has led aggressive immigration crackdowns across the nation, including operations in the Chicago region last year.
First Assistant U.S. Attorney Jason Yonan emphasised to jurors during closing arguments that these words carried serious intent rather than casual banter. "Those words do not indicate that this was a joke," Yonan asserted. "Those words have meaning. They are not innocent and harmless words."
Defence Argues Messages Were Mere Gossip
Defence attorneys presented a contrasting narrative, portraying Espinoza Martinez as a working man who sent the messages as "neighbourhood gossip" after returning home from work and relaxing with beers. They highlighted that he never followed up on the exchanges and maintained only a few dollars in his bank account, questioning his capacity to finance such a bounty.
"Sending a message about gossip that you heard in the neighbourhood, it's not murder for hire," defence attorney Dena Singer told jurors. "It's not a federal crime." If convicted, Espinoza Martinez could face up to ten years in prison.
Context of Chicago Immigration Crackdown
The trial unfolds against the backdrop of heightened immigration enforcement activities in the Chicago area, where protests, arrests, and tense standoffs with federal agents became commonplace throughout the city of 2.7 million residents and surrounding suburbs. Espinoza Martinez was arrested in October as these operations drew national attention, particularly in the heavily Mexican Little Village neighbourhood where he resides.
Born in Mexico and living in Chicago for years without citizenship, Espinoza Martinez did not testify at his trial. However, attorneys played clips from his law enforcement interview where he expressed confusion about the charges, stating he sent the messages without serious consideration while scrolling through social media after work. "I didn't threaten anyone," he told investigators, alternating between English and Spanish. "I'm not saying that I was telling them to do it."
Questions About Government Evidence and Narratives
The Department of Homeland Security publicly celebrated Espinoza Martinez's arrest on social media, sharing unredacted photos of his face and referring to him as a "depraved" gang member. Border Patrol commander Gregory Bovino has cited the case as evidence of increasing dangers faced by federal agents.
Yet several federal lawsuits in Chicago have cast doubt on DHS narratives. Of approximately thirty criminal cases stemming from Operation Midway Blitz, charges have been dismissed or dropped in about half. In one notable lawsuit that compelled Bovino to sit for depositions, a federal judge found he had lied under oath regarding alleged gang threats.
Nationwide, dozens of criminal cases linked to immigration operations have similarly collapsed. Bovino did not testify at this trial.
Gang Allegations and Informant Testimony Scrutinised
Federal prosecutors initially described Espinoza Martinez as a "ranking member" of the Latin Kings street gang, but U.S. District Judge Joan Lefkow barred testimony on gang affiliations due to insufficient evidence. According to the criminal complaint, Espinoza Martinez allegedly sent messages on behalf of the gang to other members.
During trial, minor references to gangs emerged, with Espinoza Martinez stating in his interview that he had no involvement with the Latin Kings. His brother, Oscar, testified that he interpreted the Snapchat messages as a joke and content he had already encountered on Facebook.
Defence attorney Dena Singer highlighted weaknesses in the government's case, particularly concerning their first witness, Adrian Jimenez. The 44-year-old construction company owner had communicated with Espinoza Martinez via Snapchat about work matters while secretly serving as a paid government informant for years. Jimenez, who suffers from back problems and walked slowly with a limp to the witness chair, shared the Snapchat exchanges with a federal investigator.
"Would you solicit for hire an individual that was in that much pain and could barely walk?" Singer questioned jurors. "That doesn't make any sense."
The jury now deliberates as this case tests the boundaries between online expression and criminal solicitation within the contentious landscape of immigration enforcement.
