A suspected gang leader has been arrested in Chicago for allegedly placing a bounty on the head of a senior U.S. Border Patrol officer, in what federal authorities are calling a direct threat to national security and law enforcement.
Juan Espinoza Martinez, a 37-year-old believed to be a ranking member of the Latin Kings street gang, was taken into custody Monday morning by federal agents. The arrest comes amid ongoing immigration enforcement efforts under “Operation Midway Blitz”, a federal crackdown on illegal immigration and gang activity across several major U.S. cities.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Illinois unsealed a criminal complaint Monday charging Martinez with murder for hire, a serious federal offense that could carry life in prison if convicted.
Authorities say Martinez, a Mexican national who entered the U.S. illegally, used social media to communicate his plans, allegedly offering $10,000 for anyone who could “take down” the officer, identified in the complaint as Commander at Large Gregory Bovino, a senior official with the U.S. Border Patrol.
Juan Espinoza Martinez, a suspected Latin Kings leader in Chicago, is charged with murder-for-hire for allegedly targeting Border Patrol Commander Gregory Bovino. Martinez reportedly offered $2K for info and $10K to “take him down” via Snapchat, posting a photo of the officer.… pic.twitter.com/Q4oy6mg5Kx
— FOX & Friends (@foxandfriends) October 7, 2025
According to the complaint, Martinez used Snapchat to send out disturbing messages, including one that read:
“2k on information when you get him”
And another that followed with:
“10k if you take him down.”
Investigators traced the messages to an account tied to Martinez, using the screen name “monkeys—” and the name “Juan.” Along with the messages, the sender allegedly included a photo of Chief Bovino, who was working in Chicago as part of the federal government’s stepped-up immigration enforcement.
Officials say the situation escalated after a police-involved shooting on October 4 in Chicago’s Brighton Park neighborhood. The shooting involved Border Patrol agents and a woman named Marimar Martinez (no relation confirmed), who was shot and wounded after allegedly ramming a federal vehicle. Prosecutors say that in the aftermath, Juan Martinez directed Latin Kings members to mobilize in that same area, ordering them to arm themselves and “defend” gang territory.
A confidential source told authorities that Martinez instructed members to patrol key intersections in the Little Village area, particularly near 26th Street and South Drake Avenue, which is known to be controlled by the Latin Kings.
U.S. Attorney Andrew Boutros condemned the alleged plot in strong terms, calling it “an attack on the rule of law” and warning that no officer should fear for their life while enforcing immigration or criminal law. Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche echoed that, saying this is the kind of case that reflects the Department of Justice’s current focus: pushing back hard against organized crime and street gangs.
“This is what we mean by Take Back America,” Blanche said during a press conference. “Returning every street, every neighborhood, to the law-abiding Americans who live there.”
The arrest comes as violence continues to escalate in Chicago, especially surrounding federal enforcement activity. Over the weekend, two additional arrests were made in separate cases where suspects allegedly rammed government vehicles. One of those suspects, Anthony Ian Santos Ruiz, was arrested without incident. The other, Marimar Martinez, was shot after refusing to stop for authorities.
Between Friday night and Sunday at midnight, Chicago police reported 29 people shot and four killed across the city, adding even more pressure to what officials are describing as a growing public safety crisis.
Martinez has not yet appeared in court. Federal officials say more charges may follow, and the investigation is ongoing. The Justice Department also noted that multiple search warrants are still active, and more gang-related arrests may be on the horizon.
Depraved individuals – who do not value human life and threaten law enforcement – do NOT belong in this country.
Thanks to ICE and our federal law enforcement partners, Juan Espinoza Martinez, a member of the Latin Kings street gang who placed a bounty on U.S. Border Patrol… pic.twitter.com/CgKJbs76go
— Homeland Security (@DHSgov) October 7, 2025
This developing story comes as federal and local law enforcement continue trying to contain violence tied to immigration enforcement, gang activity, and anti-ICE demonstrations in sanctuary cities like Chicago.
The case against Juan Martinez has now moved into the national spotlight — not just because of who he allegedly targeted, but because of what’s at stake: the safety of federal officers and the rule of law in America’s most violent cities.
