The trial of a Chicago man accused of ordering a “hit” on a top federal official officially moved into the courtroom Tuesday.
Juan Espinoza-Martinez appeared at the Dirksen Federal Courthouse to face charges that he solicited the murder of Border Patrol Chief Gregory Bovino.
Attorneys spent the day beginning the process of picking a jury to decide the 37-year-old’s fate.
The case centers on a $10,000 bounty allegedly offered for Bovino’s life during a high-stakes immigration enforcement push.
Bovino was the face of “Operation Midway Blitz,” a controversial federal immigration operation in Chicago.
The Department of Homeland Security claims they discovered the plot through a screenshot of a Snapchat conversation.
In that message, prosecutors say Espinoza-Martinez shared a photo of Bovino and offered $10,000 to “take him down.”
The message also allegedly offered a $2,000 reward for information leading to the Chief’s location.
Federal agents initially claimed the message contained “LK” symbols, which they linked to the Latin Kings street gang.
However, the trial began with a major setback for the government’s original narrative.
U.S. District Judge Joan Lefkow ruled that prosecutors cannot present evidence claiming Espinoza-Martinez is a gang member.
The judge found that the government failed to provide actual proof that the defendant belonged to the Latin Kings.
Defense attorneys argued the government’s evidence was “shockingly thin,” noting the defendant has no gang tattoos or related criminal history.
Espinoza-Martinez has pleaded not guilty and maintains he has worked a construction job in Chicago for over a decade.
The government previously described the defendant as a “criminal illegal alien” and a “thug,” using the case to highlight threats against agents.
If convicted, Espinoza-Martinez faces serious federal prison time for soliciting the murder of a federal officer.
The trial is expected to continue throughout the week as witness testimony begins.
