Chicago man’s Snapchat messages at center of federal murder-for-hire trial

A federal jury is now considering a case centered around whether A Chicago manWere the Snapchat messages a real murder-for-hire plot targeting a senior US Border Patrol official or just reckless talk shared online.

The defense rested Wednesday in the federal trial of Juan Espinoza Martinez, 37, who is accused of soliciting the murder of Border Patrol Chief Greg Bovino by offering cash rewards via Snapchat. According to the Associated Press. Espinoza Martinez did not testify.

The Associated Press reported that U.S. District Judge Joan Lefkow sent jurors home for the day and asked them to return Thursday morning for closing arguments, after which the case is expected to be handed over to the jury.

Prosecutors allege Espinoza Martinez inadvertently sent Snapchat messages to a government informant, offering $2,000 for information on Bovino’s whereabouts and $10,000 “if I catch him.” Jurors were shown screenshots of the messages, some of which included a photo of Bovino, according to testimony cited by the AP.

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Border Patrol Commander Gregory Bovino in Kenner, Jefferson Parish, near New Orleans during Operation Catahoula Crunch on December 6. (Madison Thorne/Anadolu via Getty Images)

Federal prosecutors said in their opening statements that the messages went beyond angry rhetoric or political rhetoric and represented a deliberate attempt to incite violence against… Federal law enforcement official.

“This case is not about someone expressing strong opinions about immigration enforcement,” Assistant U.S. Attorney Minjie Shin told the jury, according to the AP. Prosecutors assert that the messages showed intent and were not pranks or gossip.

Defense attorneys countered that Espinoza Martinez, a carpenter with little money in his bank account, was merely repeating rumors circulating on social media and in his neighborhood. His lawyers argued that the messages amounted to “neighborhood gossip” and were not a real plan to harm anyone, the Associated Press reported.

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Residents and protesters clash with US Border Patrol agents and other federal agents in the Little Village neighborhood on October 23, 2025, in Chicago, Illinois. (Joshua Lott/The Washington Post via Getty Images)

The government’s first witness was Adrian Jimenez, a construction company owner who contacted Espinoza Martinez about work and later turned over Snapchat messages to authorities. Jimenez testified that he took the messages seriously and called A.J Homeland Security investigator He knew, according to the Associated Press.

The Associated Press reported that Jimenez admitted during questioning that he had been convicted of a previous felony, had served time in prison, and had previously been paid as a government informant, although he did not provide details. Defense attorneys questioned whether Jimenez truly believed the messages were incitement to murder.

“You’re not someone who would commit murder for hire, are you?” Defense lawyer Dina Singer Jimenez asked.

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“No,” Jimenez replied.

Espinoza Martinez’s younger brother, Oscar Espinoza Martinez, also testified for the defense, saying he saw a Facebook post about a rumored reward before receiving the Snapchat messages and took them as a joke. “Nobody would do that for $10,000,” he testified, according to the Associated Press.

The case stems from an investigation that began in October, when ICE’s Homeland Security Investigations received information from a confidential source indicating Bovino had been infected. Espinoza Martinez was arrested on October 6 (Burr Ridge, Illinois)..

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People who were detained earlier in the day are taken to a parking lot on the city’s far north side before being transported to the Immigration and Customs Enforcement Center on October 31, 2025 in Chicago. (Jimmy Kelter Davis/Getty Images)

After the arrest, the Department of Homeland Security issued statements condemning the alleged plot.

“The arrest of this callous and violent member of the Latin Kings, a criminal organization notorious for its cruelty and disregard for the law, highlights the unwavering commitment of Homeland Security Investigations and our law enforcement partners to protect our communities and those who support justice,” Matthew Scarpino, special agent in charge of HSI in Chicago, said in an October statement.

“Targeting a senior federal officer is a brazen and direct assault on the rule of law, and HSI will remain persistent in dismantling violent gangs like the Latin Kings that threaten public safety,” Scarpino added.

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Assistant Secretary of Homeland Security Tricia McLaughlin also addressed the case after the arrest.

“Corrupt individuals like Juan Espinoza Martinez — who do not value human life and threaten law enforcement — do not belong in this country,” McLaughlin said. “We will not allow criminal gangs to target our U.S. government and law enforcement officials. Thanks to ICE and our federal law enforcement partners, this thug is off our streets and behind bars.”

“These attacks on our brave law enforcement officers must end,” McLaughlin added. “Secretary Noem has been very clear: If you threaten or lay your hands on law enforcement, you will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”

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the Ministry of Justice Espinoza Martinez is on trial for murder-for-hire. If convicted, he faces up to 10 years in federal prison, according to the Associated Press.

Bovino did not testify at the trial. Closing arguments are scheduled for Thursday, after which the jury will begin deliberations.

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Espinoza Martinez, who was born in Mexico, has lived in the United States for decades and does not have Legal permission to stay there The country, according to federal authorities. In recorded interviews conducted with jurors, he denied threatening anyone or being a gang member, and said he worked every day as a union worker, the AP reported.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Stephenie Price covers crime, including missing persons, homicides and immigrant crimes. Send story tips to stepheny.price@fox.com.