Alleged Latin Kings leader indicted for murder-for-hire plot targeting Border Patrol

An alleged Chicago gang leader living in the United States illegally and accused of soliciting the murder of a high-ranking U.S. Border Patrol commander has been indicted by a federal grand jury.

Juan Espinoza Martinez, 37, is charged with a single count of murder for hire over an alleged bounty placed on U.S. Border Patrol Chief Gregory Bovino, the commander at large.

The indictment states that Martinez, a Mexican citizen, "knowingly used a facility of interstate commerce, namely, an Apple Model 16 cellular telephone... and Snapchat, with intent that a murder be committed."

According to a criminal complaint, Martinez is a ranking member of the Latin Kings, a gang notorious for violent crimes and drug trafficking across Chicago and other cities. DHS said Martinez is from Mexico and entered the U.S. illegally at an unknown date and time.

He allegedly sent messages via Snapchat that read, "2k on information when you get him" and "10k if you take him down," the complaint states.

In the exchange, Martinez used the handle "monkeys---" and the name "Juan," federal prosecutors said. The message included a photo of a senior Border Patrol officer involved in immigration enforcement operations in Chicago as part of U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s "Operation Midway Blitz."

Martinez’s lawyer, Jonathan Bedi, said last week that his client was a longtime Chicago resident and father of three who was innocent of the charge against him.

"Juan has resided in the United States for 30 years, and throughout his time in Chicago, he has had no prior criminal history or gang affiliation," Bedi said. "As a dedicated union member, Juan has consistently worked to provide for his family while contributing positively to the community; he even coaches his kids’ sports teams."

"Juan is innocent of these charges. Juan, his family and supporters remain steadfast in their confidence in his innocence and his character as a hardworking, law-abiding member of society," he added.

The Almighty Latin King and Queen Nation (ALKQN, ALKN, or LKN, also known as simply Latin Kings) is a gang active primarily in the United States. The gang was founded by Puerto Ricans in Chicago, Illinois, in 1954.[24][25] The Latin Kings are one of the largest Hispanic and Latino street and prison gangs worldwide.[26][27][28]

Founded - 1954; 71 years ago[1]

Activities - Drug trafficking, assault, burglary, homicide, identity theft and money laundering[3]

Allies
American Mafia[8]
Black P. Stones[9]
Bloods[10]
Diablos MC[11]
Four Corner Hustlers[9]
Pagan’s MC[12]
People Nation[13]
Sinaloa Cartel[14]
Vice Lords[15]

Rivals
Crips[16]
Dominicans Don’t Play[16]
Folk Nation[13]
Gangster Disciples[17]
Latin Eagles[9]
Maniac Latin Disciples[18]
MS-13[16]
Ñetas[19]
La Raza Nation[20]
Simon City Royals[9]
Los Solidos[21]
Spanish Cobras[9]
Tiny Rascal Gang[22][17]
United Blood Nation[23]

In the United States, the Latin Kings operate under two umbrella factions—the King Motherland Chicago (KMC) faction headquartered in Chicago, and the Bloodline faction based in New York. The KMC faction consists of 60 structured chapters operating in 158 cities in 31 U.S. states, with a membership of between 20,000 and 35,000.[3] The Bloodline Latin Kings have a membership of 2,200 to 7,500, and operate several dozen chapters in 15 cities in 5 states.[3] The gang also has a significant presence in the prison system.[15] The Latin Kings are involved in a wide variety of criminal activities, including drug dealing, assault, burglary, homicide, identity theft, and money laundering, with the gang’s primary source of income deriving from the street-level distribution of narcotics.[3]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Latin_Kings

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