Federal officials say they have charged a man tied to the Latin Kings gang in Chicago with attempting to place a bounty on the head of Border Patrol Commander Gregory Bovino.
The accused, Juan Espinoza Martinez, 37, allegedly used Snapchat messages to offer $2,000 for information leading to Bovino’s location and up to $10,000 for “taking him down.” A photo of the commander was reportedly included in the messages.
Martinez was arrested in Burr Ridge, Illinois, and is now facing federal murder-for-hire charges. He is also believed to be in the country illegally.
Homeland Security leaders condemned the plot, calling it an “attack on the rule of law” and vowing to prosecute threats against law enforcement to the fullest extent.
The bounty claim comes amid heightened tensions in Chicago as federal authorities intensify federal immigration operations in the city.