Three men stand trial in Manhattan accused of a systematic drugging and robbery scheme targeting gay men in New York City. The case, which gained public attention after one victim's death was reported, alleges the defendants used fentanyl and other substances to incapacitate their victims before stealing their money and belongings. Two deaths are attributed to the scheme.
Three men accused of orchestrating a horrific drugging and robbery scheme targeting New York City's gay bars stand trial in Manhattan. Jayqwan Hamilton, 36; Robert Demaio, 35; and Jacob Barroso, 30, are alleged to have systematically lured unsuspecting men from gay bars and nightclubs between March 2021 and June 2022, drugging them with fentanyl and other substances before robbing them.
Prosecutors claim these actions led to the deaths of social worker Julio Ramirez, 25, and political consultant John Umberger, 33, in the spring of 2022. The case, which gained public attention in May 2022 after NBC News reported on Ramirez's death, involved a complex operation where the defendants allegedly used facial recognition technology to access bank accounts and payment apps. They would then steal thousands of dollars and use the victims' accounts to purchase various goods and services. In her opening statement, Assistant District Attorney Emily Ching asserted that all three defendants were involved in the scheme, regardless of who directly administered the drugs. She emphasized that the evidence would prove their intent to rob and their collective responsibility for the victims' deaths. Defense attorneys, while acknowledging the tragedy, urged the jury to remain impartial until the end of the trial. They argued that it was impossible to definitively determine which drugs caused the deaths of Ramirez and Umberger, pointing to the presence of multiple substances in their systems. The New York City medical examiner ruled both deaths as homicides caused by drug-facilitated theft. The trial continues with testimony from surviving victims and Umberger's mother
DRUG ROBBERY GANG HOMICIDE GAY MEN NEW YORK CITY TRIAL FENTANYL FACIAL RECOGNITION
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