Federal prosecutors have unveiled allegations against a leader of the Latin Kings gang, stating that he proposed a $10,000 bounty for the assassination of a senior immigration enforcement officer. This came in response to an incident where an ICE agent was involved in a shooting in Chicago over the weekend. Sources involved in the case have revealed that the intended target was identified as Commander Gregory Bovino, who is currently overseeing the Border Patrol’s prominent “Midway Blitz” operation within the city.
Juan Espinoza Martinez, 37, recognized by the alias “Monkey,” has been charged with offering a financial incentive of $10,000 for the execution of Officer Bovino and an additional $2,000 for any information leading to his whereabouts.
The details of the case, which were made public on Monday, describe how Martinez supposedly utilized social media, encrypted communication tools, and his influence within the Latin Kings to mobilize gang members following a police-related shooting incident involving Border Patrol earlier that weekend in Brighton Park.
A federal source disclosed that Martinez directed gang members to the vicinity of the shooting, instructing them to secure firearms and patrol Latin Kings’ territory proximate to 26th Street and South Drake Avenue.
According to the complaint, Martinez conveyed a Snapchat message that included a picture of Bovino, paired with a Spanish caption that translates to: “$2,000 for information when you catch him.” Additionally, a subsequent message reportedly confirmed the Latin Kings’ plan to execute the attack.
Investigators connected Martinez to these correspondences through subscriber information and a phone number associated with his CashApp account. Surveillance teams later spotted him operating a red 2014 Ford pickup truck registered under his name near the gang’s stronghold located in Little Village.
The complaint highlights that Martinez has the capacity to authorize violent actions, including homicide, and emphasizes the gang’s notorious history of executing “hits” against both rival factions and law enforcement officers.
Martinez is officially charged with murder-for-hire.
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Tim Hecke is the managing partner of CWBChicago. He began his career at KMOX, the iconic news radio station in St. Louis, and has since worked for various stations in Minneapolis, Chicago, and New York City. Tim has developed syndicated radio news and content services that cater to the 100 largest radio markets in the United States. He took on the role of CWBChicago’s managing partner in 2019.
His email address is tim@cwbchicago.com.
