Joe.My.God. LGBT News
New York City’s NBC affiliate reports:
Three men accused of drugging and robbing men at Manhattan gay bars and nightclubs were found guilty Monday, more than two years after the deaths of two of their 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 defendants allegedly gave the victims drugs, including fentanyl and cocaine. Once the victims were disoriented, the defendants stole their phones and then drained their accounts, going on shopping sprees, prosecutors said.
The New York Times reports:
One of those killed, Julio Ramirez, was left in the back of a taxi. The other, John Umberger, died in a townhouse where his attackers partied next to his lifeless body. The three men, Jayqwan Hamilton, 37, Jacob Barroso, 32, and Robert DeMaio, 36, were also convicted of robbery and conspiracy.
Around 2:30 Monday afternoon, the jury forewoman stood up from her seat in the jury box and announced a verdict of “guilty” to each and every count that the defendants faced. As she spoke, family members of the men gasped. Their scheme was practiced and purposeful, Manhattan prosecutors said.
They would lurk outside Midtown bars near closing time, knowing they would encounter young men who were pliable after a night of drinking. After chatting up the victims, prosecutors said, the men would give them drugs to subdue them and then steal their phones and credit cards.
New York City’s CBS affiliate reports:
“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.
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.
Each man faces 25 years to life in prison. Police believe that there are likely many other victims who survived but never came forward out of embarrassment or fear of being outed. The video reports below are from the start of the trial.
Three men behind deadly druggings that terrorized NYC’s gay bars found guilty
www.nbcnewyork.com/manhattan/ny…— Ethan Harp (@ethanharp.bsky.social) February 10, 2025 at 3:22 PM
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. https://t.co/Dm6ZytyosY
— NBC Out (@NBCOUT) February 10, 2025
The 3 murdering con artists whose actions directly led to the deaths of 2 gay men in Manhattan — all for a little cash — have been convicted on all counts. https://t.co/nt5NHQckzy pic.twitter.com/nZmkyQ8SZ4
— Matthew Rettenmund (@mattrett) February 10, 2025