Three men were found guilty Monday of murder, robbery and conspiracy in connection with a drugging and robbery scheme that terrorized New York City gay bars and led to the deaths of two victims.
Jayqwan Hamilton, Robert Demaio, and Jacob Barroso were found guilty on all charges following a three-week trial in downtown Manhattan. Prosecutors had accused the three men of working together to drug and rob five men between March 2021 and June 2022.
Two men — 25-year-old Julio Ramirez and 33-year-old John Umberger — died as part of the long-running robbery scheme.
The trio had been accused of preying on people out enjoying Manhattan’s night life. The crimes didn’t come into broad public view until May 2022, when NBC News reported on Ramirez’s mysterious death.
“We are heart broken because nothing is going to bring John back, but we are so grateful to God that hopefully no one else will be hurt by these men,” Umberger’s mother, Linda Clary, told NBC New York.
Clary said relief washed over her after the jury foreman said the word guilty, convicting the trio on multiple counts including murder, robbery and conspiracy.
“We are overwhelmed with gratitude and joy,” Clary said.
The defendants allegedly targeted five different men, giving the victims drugs — including fentanyl and cocaine — after lurking outside of bars and clubs. Once the victims were disoriented, the defendants stole their phones and then drained their accounts, going on shopping sprees, prosecutors said.
“These defendants were motivated by greed, and their callous behavior left two young men dead. I know the families who lost their loved ones are still suffering from so much pain, and I hope this verdict can provide at least some measure of comfort,” District Attorney Alvin Bragg said in a statement following the verdict.
Ramirez was left to die in the back of a taxi cab, while Umberger was found dead in an apartment.
There were two other defendants in the case, Shane Hoskins and Andre Butts, who both previously pleaded guilty, according to the district attorney’s office.
Hoskins pleaded to attempted robbery in the first degree and Butts pleaded to robbery in the first degree. They both got a promised sentence of eight years, the D.A.’s office said.
The sentencing for Hamilton, Demaio and Barroso was scheduled for April 4. The defense said it plans to appeal the convictions.
