The FBI has disrupted a plot to eliminate a senior ICE official, allegedly orchestrated by a gang leader in Chicago. Juan Espinoza Martinez, a suspected Latin Kings member based in the Windy City, is now in federal custody. He faces charges of offering a bounty for the capture or killing of Cmdr. Gregory Bovino, the Operational Ground Commander of “Operation Midway Blitz,” which targets illegal immigrants in Chicago.

The bounty, described by authorities as an either/or hit, offered $2,000 for capturing Bovino and $10,000 for his death. The alleged scheme followed a violent encounter in a Chicago neighborhood on October 4, 2025, when federal agents were ambushed by multiple vehicles. During the altercation, an armed attacker was wounded after agents fired back. DHS stated this incident prompted Martinez to launch the bounty plot.

Martinez reportedly directed gang members to patrol the area near 39th and Kedzie, seeking confrontation with federal agents. A confidential source told investigators that Martinez ordered his crew to obtain firearms and defend Latin Kings territory in response to the ambush. Federal agents arrested Martinez on Monday after a tip led them to the alleged murder-for-hire plan.

U.S. Attorney Andrew S. Boutros called the plot “an attack on the rule of law.” The complaint alleges Martinez, a 37-year-old Mexican national who entered the U.S. illegally, used Snapchat to communicate the bounty, including messages in Spanish offering $2,000 for capturing Bovino and $10,000 for his death. A screenshot of the messages was provided to authorities by an anonymous source.

Cmdr. Bovino, who has led “Operation Midway Blitz” amid a federal crackdown on illegal immigration, addressed the threat to his life following Martinez’s arrest. He acknowledged ongoing risks but expressed confidence in the mission, stating he expects increased cooperation from local law enforcement. DHS officials emphasized that the arrest does not eliminate the broader danger posed by gang-related criminal activity targeting federal agents.

The case highlights escalating tensions between federal authorities and organized crime networks in Chicago, with Bovino’s leadership under scrutiny as part of a broader anti-immigration operation.