Federal authorities say they disrupted a murder-for-hire plot before it could turn deadly — a case that officials describe as both chilling and unprecedented. At the center of the alleged scheme was a senior U.S. Border Patrol leader, who investigators say had a price placed on his life by a man already living in the country illegally and allegedly connected to a violent street gang.
According to federal law enforcement officials, the target of the plot was Border Patrol Chief Gregory Bovino, a high-ranking official whose role places him at the forefront of immigration enforcement. The alleged threat came to light after a confidential informant delivered an urgent warning: an individual with ties to the Latin Kings was actively seeking help to locate the chief, offering money for surveillance and an even larger payout for his assassination.
That tip immediately set off alarms within Homeland Security Investigations. Investigators moved quickly, launching a focused operation to assess the credibility of the threat. What they uncovered, they say, left little room for doubt. Online messages allegedly sent by Juan Espinoza Martinez outlined payments for tracking Bovino’s movements and explicitly referenced a cash bounty for carrying out the killing. Officials say the language used was direct, coordinated, and indicative of a serious intent to commit violence against a federal officer.
Authorities traced the digital trail to Burr Ridge, Illinois, where Martinez was living at the time. Federal agents moved swiftly, arresting him without incident before anyone could act on the alleged plan. Investigators say timing was critical — a delay, they argue, could have put lives at immediate risk.
The Justice Department has since charged Martinez with soliciting the murder of a senior federal law enforcement officer, one of the most serious crimes under federal law. If convicted, he could face decades in prison. Prosecutors emphasize that the charge reflects not only the severity of the alleged plot, but also the government’s determination to protect its officers from targeted violence.
Department of Homeland Security leaders described the case as a stark warning to criminal gangs and organized networks operating inside the United States. Targeting federal officials, they said, crosses a line that will be met with swift, aggressive enforcement and severe consequences. The case also highlights growing concerns among law enforcement about how criminal organizations use social media and encrypted messaging platforms to plan and coordinate violent acts.
While officials say the threat was neutralized before it could be carried out, the episode underscores the risks faced by federal officers and the evolving tactics of gang-affiliated suspects. For investigators, stopping the plot before blood was shed is being viewed as a critical success — one that may have saved not only a senior official’s life, but also prevented a broader wave of retaliatory violence.
As the case moves through the courts, federal authorities say they remain vigilant, stressing that any attempt to intimidate, harm, or assassinate law enforcement officers will be pursued with the full weight of the justice system.
