Three Men Found Guilty of Murdering Victims by Luring Them from NYC Gay Bars, Drugging, and Robbing Them
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Three individuals have been convicted of murder after a series of crimes that involved luring men from New York City gay bars, drugging them, and then robbing them, leaving some victims dead. The incidents resulted in the deaths of Julio Ramirez, 25, and John Umberger, 33, who were both drugged within months of each other in 2022, according to prosecutors. Alongside these fatalities, several other individuals were also drugged and robbed, but fortunately survived the encounters.
The convicted suspects identified as Jayqwan Hamilton, 37, Robert DeMaio, 36, and Jacob Barroso, 32, have been found guilty on all charges following a trial in a New York court. DeMaio and Hamilton were convicted of the murders of both Ramirez and Umberger, while DeMaio alone was found guilty of Ramirez’s murder. Additionally, all three individuals were convicted of various robbery charges, highlighting the severity and extent of their criminal activities.
Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg expressed his concerns regarding the perpetrators’ motivations, stating that “These defendants were motivated by greed, and their callous behavior left two young men dead.” He acknowledged the ongoing pain and suffering of the families who lost their loved ones and hoped that the verdict would offer some solace during such challenging times.
Prosecutors revealed that Umberger was discovered deceased in his Manhattan apartment in June 2022, while Ramirez was reportedly abandoned in a taxi in April of the same year. Autopsies indicated that both victims succumbed to a lethal combination of cocaine, fentanyl, and other substances. Reports from The New York Times further indicated that Hamilton, DeMaio, and Barroso specifically targeted Ramirez, a social worker, outside The Ritz Bar in Manhattan’s Hell’s Kitchen neighbourhood.
The trio employed fentanyl to incapacitate the 25-year-old victim before transferring funds from his accounts, which were subsequently used to purchase expensive sneakers and clothing. Similarly, Umberger was targeted outside The Q NYC in Hell’s Kitchen where he was drugged by the defendants before being robbed of over $2,000. After the theft, he was left incapacitated in his apartment, illustrating the calculated and heartless nature of the crimes committed by the perpetrators.
In addition to the convictions of Hamilton, DeMaio, and Barroso, two other individuals, Shane Hoskins and Andre Butts, had previously pleaded guilty to their involvement in drugging and robbing other male victims. The trio now face the possibility of spending the rest of their lives behind bars as a consequence of their heinous actions and the harm they inflicted on the victims and their families.
The outcome of this trial serves as a sobering reminder of the dangers faced by individuals, especially within marginalized communities, and highlights the necessity of enhanced vigilance and protection measures. The severity of the crimes committed by the convicted individuals underscores the importance of ensuring the safety and security of all members of society, and it is imperative that justice is served for the victims and their families affected by these tragic events.