Introduction to the Case
A Manhattan judge sentenced three men to decades in prison on Wednesday for facilitating a years-long drug-induced robbery scheme at New York City gay bars that ultimately killed two men.
Jayqwan Hamilton, 37, Jacob Barroso, 32, and Robert DeMaio, 36, were found guilty in February of committing murder, robbery and conspiracy in connection with the scheme that lasted from March 2021 to June 2022. Julio Ramirez, a 25-year-old social worker, and John Umberger, a 33-year-old political consultant, were murdered in the spring of 2022 in the scheme.
The Scheme and the Crimes
All three of the defendants were convicted of murdering Ramirez. Two of them, Hamilton and DeMaio, were convicted of murdering Umberger. Hamilton and Barroso spoke at the sentencing on Wednesday and maintained their innocence.
The defendants drugged the victims to the point of unconsciousness — using a concoction that included fentanyl — before using their lifeless faces to gain access to their cell phones, using facial recognition technology. Once inside the victims’ cell phones, the men stole thousands of dollars out of their banking apps and used payment apps to purchase food, shoes, alcohol and other items, prosecutors said.
Sentencing and Reactions
Hamilton and DeMaio were sentenced to 40 years to life in prison, and Barroso was sentenced to 20 years to life.
"This was a cold and calculated pattern," Judge Felicia Mennin said at the Wednesday sentencing hearing. "I pity your lack of empathy. But pity will not translate into leniency in this case."
Friends and family members of the defendants and the two victims, including Umberger’s father, who traveled from the UK, attended the hearing, sitting on opposite aisles of the courtroom packed with about 100 people. Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg also appeared at the sentencing and sat in the front row of the courtroom as victim statements were underway.
Victim Impact Statements
Carlos Ramirez told the court that his brother, Julio, was his best friend who had "just begun building his life" and his career as a mental health counselor before his death.
"What happened to my brother wasn’t just tragic, it was intentional…it was evil," Carlos Ramirez said. "What’s worse, he was left alone while the people responsible continued their lives [and] my family was shattered."
He then asked Judge Mennin to sentence the men to life in prison without the possibility of parole, arguing that they are a “threat to society.” Ramirez’s parents also spoke, reiterating the request for "real justice."
Aftermath and Related Cases
Umberger’s mother, Linda Clary, told the court that losing her son is "truly the greatest pain and worst pain in the world" and that "this was preventable and this should not have happened."
The crimes didn’t come into broad public view until May 2022 — more than a year after the scheme began — when NBC News reported on the mysterious death of Ramirez.
Three other men, Eddie Ashley, Shane Hoskins and Andre Butts, were also arrested and convicted of crimes in connection with the scheme. According to the district attorney’s office, the three other men pleaded guilty.
Conclusion
The sentencing of the three men brings closure to the families of the victims, but it also highlights the need for greater awareness and action to prevent similar crimes in the future. The use of drugs to facilitate robbery and murder is a serious issue that affects not only the LGBTQ community but also the broader society.
FAQs
Q: What was the scheme that the three men were convicted of?
A: The scheme involved drugging and robbing men after meeting them outside popular city gay bars and nightclubs.
Q: How many men were killed in the scheme?
A: Two men, Julio Ramirez and John Umberger, were killed in the scheme.
Q: What were the sentences given to the three men?
A: Hamilton and DeMaio were sentenced to 40 years to life in prison, and Barroso was sentenced to 20 years to life.
Q: Were the victims targeted because of their sexual orientation?
A: Prosecutors said that the victims were not targeted solely for financial gain — not their sexual orientation.
Q: Are there any related cases?
A: Yes, a similar crime ring was wreaking havoc at bars in Manhattan’s Lower East Side, prosecutors said. The second crime scheme also led to several deaths and at least one arrest.
