CHICAGO — A jury was selected Tuesday in the federal trial of Juan Espinoza Martinez, who is accused of offering a $10,000 bounty for the killing of a Border Patrol commander connected to an immigration crackdown in the Chicago area. The trial was expected to begin Wednesday after 12 jurors and two alternates were chosen.
Martinez, 37, faces one count of murder-for-hire. Federal prosecutors allege he is a “ranking member” of the Latin Kings gang who offered a reward for Gregory Bovino’s killing. Prosecutors also said Martinez sent a Snapchat message in October that read in part “10k if u take him down,” along with a picture of Bovino.
The criminal complaint, prosecutors said, also includes claims from an anonymous source accusing Martinez of being a “ranking member of the Latin Kings.” Before jurors were brought in, U.S. Judge Joan Lefkow barred questioning on the Latin Kings after prosecutors acknowledged they did not have evidence proving gang ties.
Defense attorney Jonathan Bedi told the judge before jurors were selected that, in his view, the case is weak on intent. “The evidence on Mr. Martinez’s intent is so weak,” Bedi said.
Opening statements were set for Wednesday, and much of the juror questioning was conducted in private conversations between the judge and attorneys. The trial is expected to last a few days and include testimony from federal agents, along with excerpts of a video-taped interview Martinez gave to authorities after his arrest. Bovino was not expected to testify.
Martinez pleaded not guilty. He has been in federal custody since his arrest in October, according to the proceedings described in the Associated Press report. The same report said Martinez was born in Mexico, has lived in the United States for more than 30 years, and does not have legal permission to stay in the United States.
Prosecutors say the alleged conduct ties to the immigration crackdown known as Operation Midway Blitz. In court, prosecutors also alleged Martinez offered $2,000 for information about the commander.
Prosecutors announced the murder-for-hire charges in an October statement, in which U.S. Attorney Andrew Boutros said, “Putting a price on the life of a law enforcement officer is a line that can never be crossed.” If convicted, Martinez faces up to 10 years in prison.
In related court filings and other proceedings, the AP report said Martinez’s family and attorneys contend he is not in a gang. The report also said Martinez is the father of three and worked as a carpenter. The AP report further said Bovino and the Trump administration have presented the Chicago case as an example of risks federal agents face during the immigration operations.
The AP report noted that skepticism has been fueled by federal lawsuits tied to Operation Midway Blitz, including dismissals or drops in about half of roughly 30 criminal cases stemming from the operation. In the Chicago area, more than 4,300 people were arrested for alleged immigration violations in a crackdown that began in September, the report said.