Emphasizing that threats against officials cannot be tolerated, authorities said the case illustrates the seriousness with which they treat coordinated threats, no matter how unconventional the methods used to encourage violence might be.
The Arrest and Charges
Martinez was charged in federal court with soliciting the murder of a senior federal law enforcement officer, a felony that carries decades in prison if convicted.
According to court filings, Espinoza Martinez allegedly communicated with others via Snapchat and perhaps other social platforms about the bounty, offering explicit rewards for information or action against Bovino.
The messages prosecutors have highlighted are stark: one allegedly promised $2,000 for information and a greater $10,000 for someone who “took him down.” Law enforcement interprets these as clear evidence of intent to solicit murder.
At a federal arraignment in October 2025, Martinez entered a plea of not guilty to the charge, with his attorney contesting the government’s characterization of the evidence and disputing claims that his client was affiliated with the Latin Kings.
Lawyers for Martinez argued in court that prosecutors must prove beyond a reasonable doubt both the meaning of the messages and their connection to a genuine effort to carry out a murder‑for‑hire scheme.
