A Manhattan jury deliberates on a chilling case involving a robbery gang accused of using fentanyl to drug and murder victims outside gay clubs in New York City.
At a Glance
- Three defendants face charges for drugging and robbing five men in 2022
- Two victims died from “acute intoxication” involving fentanyl
- Prosecutors argue fentanyl was intentionally used as a robbery tool
- Defendants face murder, robbery, burglary, conspiracy, and larceny charges
- Jury deliberations began after the prosecution’s closing arguments
Fentanyl-Laced Robbery Scheme Shocks New York City
Manhattan prosecutors have presented a disturbing case against a robbery gang accused of using fentanyl to drug and rob men outside gay nightclubs in Hell’s Kitchen. The defendants, Jayqwan Hamilton, Robert DeMaio, and Jacob Barroso, stand accused of targeting inebriated men leaving these establishments in a series of attacks that allegedly resulted in two deaths.
The prosecution claims that the defendants deliberately used fentanyl as a weapon to incapacitate their victims, facilitating the robberies. The horrific practiceled to tragic consequences, with two victims, John Umberger and Julio Ramirez, succumbing to “acute intoxication” involving fentanyl and other substances.
Assistant District Attorney Meghan Hast presented a compelling argument to the jury, emphasizing the intentional use of fentanyl in the alleged crimes. The prosecution’s case includes surveillance footage showing the suspects using a hotel luggage trolley to transport a comatose victim, highlighting the premeditated nature of the attacks.
Hast questioned the defense’s stance, asking the jury, “Did these men just happen upon people who took fentanyl on five different occasions?”
The case has brought attention to the vulnerability of patrons leaving nightclubs in the early hours. Prosecutors allege that after drugging their victims, the suspects drained their bank accounts and went on shopping sprees with the stolen money. This pattern of behavior has shocked the community and raised concerns about safety in the city’s nightlife areas.
“Even if you think Ramirez made a bad decision staying up until 3 a.m. drinking on a work night, he did not deserve to be drugged with fentanyl, stripped of his belongings, and left for dead in the back of a New York taxi cab,” Assistant District Attorney Meghan Hast said.
It’s just unimaginably cruel…and yet, Democrats keep advocating policies that make it easier for fentanyl to flow into the United States and ultimately be used to kill gay people. What are they thinking?
The deaths of John Umberger, a political consultant, and Julio Ramirez, a social worker, have put faces to this tragedy, emphasizing the human cost of these alleged crimes. Their cases have become central to the prosecution’s argument, illustrating the deadly consequences of using fentanyl as a tool for robbery.
