A high-ranking Latin Kings gang member in Chicago has been charged in a federal murder-for-hire plot targeting a U.S. Border Patrol senior officer leading “Operation Midway Blitz,” according to a criminal complaint unsealed in the Northern District of Illinois.
Federal prosecutors allege that Juan Espinoza Martinez, a known Latin Kings leader known by his street name “Monkey”, offered a $10,000 reward for the murder of a senior Border Patrol official and an additional $2,000 for information on his whereabout.
DHS Secretary Kristi Noem revealed on “Fox & Friends” that specific law enforcement officers have bounties on them put out by cartel members, terrorist organizations, and gangs.
“Intelligence indicates that these people are organized. They are getting more and more people on their team as far as attacking officers and they are making plans to ambush them and to kill them,” Noem said.
“We have specific officers and agents that have bounties that have been put out on their heads. It’s been $2,000 to kidnap them, $10,000 to kill them. They’ve released their pictures. They’ve sent them between their networks and it’s an extremely dangerous situation and unprecedented,” Noem warned.
According to Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Special Agent Christopher Perugini, Martinez used Snapchat to send a photograph of the target to a gang associate along with the chilling message in Spanish:
“2k on info cuando lo agarren” — meaning “$2,000 on information when you get him.”
The agent’s affidavit reveals that Martinez sent another message declaring, “LK [Latin Kings] on him,” signaling that the gang had officially greenlit the hit.
According to the Chicago Tribune, the targeted officer was U.S. Border Patrol Cmdr. Gregory Bovino, who is leading the Operation Midway Blitz, a joint Border Patrol and DHS mission aimed at cracking down on human smuggling, narcotics trafficking, and gang-related activity across the Chicago metro area.
More from the DOJ’s press release:
An alleged ranking member of a Chicago street gang has been charged in federal court with soliciting the murder of a senior law enforcement official involved in the immigration enforcement operation known as “Operation Midway Blitz.”
A criminal complaint unsealed today in U.S. District Court in Chicago charges JUAN ESPINOZA MARTINEZ, 37, of Chicago, with one count of murder-for-hire. Martinez was arrested this morning. His initial appearance in federal court has not yet been scheduled.
According to the complaint, Martinez is a ranking member of the Latin Kings, a street gang that has engaged in acts of violence and other illicit activities in Chicago and elsewhere.
Martinez stated in a Snapchat message, “2k on information when you get him” and “10k if u take him down,” the complaint states. Included in the message was a photo of the senior law enforcement official, who has recently participated in immigration enforcement operations in Chicago on behalf of the U.S. Border Patrol, an agency within U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the complaint states.
The complaint and arrest were announced by Todd Blanche, Deputy Attorney General, Andrew S. Boutros, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, and Matthew J. Scarpino, Special Agent-in-Charge of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations in Chicago.
“Placing a bounty on the head of a federal officer is an attack on the rule of law and on every American who depends on law enforcement to keep them safe,” said Deputy Attorney General Blanche.
“This case is exactly what we mean when we say Take Back America – taking back every neighborhood and street corner from violent thugs and criminal gangs and returning them to the law-abiding members of our communities. The Department of Justice will never allow violent gangs or criminal networks to target those who protect our borders and our communities. We will use every authority, every resource, and every partnership at our disposal to bring anyone who threatens or harms our officers to justice – swiftly and decisively.”
“Putting a price on the life of a law enforcement officer is a line that can never be crossed,” said Andrew S. Boutros, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois.
“The defendant’s actions in this case demonstrate a profound contempt for human life and public safety. Under my leadership, the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Chicago will hold defendants accountable for their grave criminal actions and ensure that no federal officer has to fear for their life for doing their job.”
“The arrest of this ruthless and violent member of the Latin Kings, a criminal organization notorious for its cruelty and disregard for the law, highlights the steadfast commitment of Homeland Security Investigations and our law enforcement partners to protect those who uphold justice,” said HSI SAC Scarpino.
“Targeting a senior federal officer is a cowardly and direct assault on the rule of law, and HSI will persist in breaking apart violent gangs like the Latin Kings that threaten our communities and those sworn to protect them.”
UPDATE: A high-ranking Chicago gang member has been charged with putting a M*RDER-FOR-HIRE out on Border Commander Greg Bovino, who is involved in President Trump’s Operation Midway Blitz.
Right as Gov. JB Pritzker, Mayor Brandon Johnson and Democrats put targets on the back… pic.twitter.com/1J72ldjXj0
— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) October 6, 2025
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