Federal agents on Monday intercepted a Chicago gang leader who they claim was hiring for the assassination of a senior official in the U.S. Border Patrol, interfering with the gang’s illicit activities.
Juan Espinoza Martinez, a leading figure in the Latin Kings, was arrested as part of “Operation Midway Blitz” after allegedly offering cash bounties to any individuals who could carry out the murder of a top official in the Border Patrol, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Illinois.
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security identified the official being targeted as Commander at Large of the U.S. Border Patrol, Chief Gregory Bovino.
U.S. Attorney Andrew S. Boutros called the alleged plot “an attack on the rule of law.”
“Putting a price on the life of a law enforcement officer is an attack on the rule of law,” Boutros said. “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.”
According to an indictment unsealed on Monday, Martinez is one of the highest sergeants in the Latin Kings, a nationwide gang that’s been linked to bloody murders of police officers, extortion, and human and drug trafficking. DHS said Martinez is from Mexico and entered the U.S. illegally at an unknown date.
Messages allegedly sent by Martinez over Snapchat stated “2k on information when you get him” and “10k if you take him down.”
The disappearing messages contained Martinez’s handle: “monkeys–” and the name “Juan,” according to the complaint.
WATCH:
!function(r,u,m,b,l,e){r._Rumble=b,r[b]||(r[b]=function(){(r[b]._=r[b]._||[]).push(arguments);if(r[b]._.length==1){l=u.createElement(m),e=u.getElementsByTagName(m)[0],l.async=1,l.src=”https://rumble.com/embedJS/u9lmzn”+(arguments[1].video?’.’+arguments[1].video:”)+”https://trendingpoliticsnews.com/?url=”+encodeURIComponent(location.href)+”&args=”+encodeURIComponent(JSON.stringify([].slice.apply(arguments))),e.parentNode.insertBefore(l,e)}})}(window, document, “script”, “Rumble”);
Rumble(“play”, {“video”:”v6xsuje”,”div”:”rumble_v6xsuje”});
A confidential source told investigators that Martinez’s hit on Bovino came after Border Patrol agents were involved in a shootout with members of the Latin Kings on Oct. 4, 2025. In response, Martinez ordered gang members to the intersection of 39th and Kedzie.
The source stated that Martinez ordered his deputies to patrol the streets and defend gang territory in the area around 26th Street and South Drake Avenue.
Deputy U.S. Attorney General Todd Blanche said the indictment of Martinez reflects the DOJ’s greater focus on reducing violent crime in large cities.
“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,” Blanche said in a statement to Fox News. “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.”
, 2025-10-07 14:29:00, 
, Trending Politics Conservative Breaking News and Commentary, %%https://trendingpoliticsnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/cropped-tp-fav-2-32×32.png, https://trendingpoliticsnews.com/feed/, Mark Steffen
