NEW YORK (1010 WINS) — Three men accused of committing a deadly string of attacks drugging and robbing men at Manhattan gay bars and nightclubs were found guilty of all charges on Monday, according to Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg.
Jayqwan Hamilton, Robert Demaio, and Jacob Barroso were convicted of all charges in the 24-count indictment, which include robbery, burglary, conspiracy and murder, after a three-week trial.
The 15-month spree between March 2021 and July 2022 involved Hamilton, Demaio and Barroso drugging their victims, stealing their identities and draining cash from their accounts.
Authorities believe over a dozen people were targeted by the group, including 25-year-old Julio Ramirez and 33-year-old John Umberger, who both died.
Ramirez, a Brooklyn social worker, was found dead in the backseat of a taxi in April 2022 after visiting the Ritz Bar and Lounge, a gay bar on West 46th Street. Umberger, a political consultant, was found dead one month later in his apartment after a night out at The Q NYC, another popular Hell's Kitchen gay bar.
Their deaths were ruled homicides after the city medical examiner’s office found fentanyl, lidocaine and cocaine in their systems.
All three men were convicted in the murder of Ramirez, and of conspiracy and various counts of robbery. DeMaio and Hamilton were convicted of burglary and of murdering Umberger, according to the New York Times.
Hamilton, 37, DeMaio, 36, and Barroso, 32, face sentences of up to 25 years to life in prison.
“Jayqwan Hamilton, Robert Demaio and Jacob Barroso took advantage of people who were just trying to enjoy Manhattan’s vibrant nightlife,” Bragg said in a statement. “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.”
Bragg said that his office will continue to take every measure possible to hold people who commit this kind of harm accountable for their actions, while working with financial companies to enhance security measures on their phone apps.
In response to these crimes, New York State Sen. Brad Hoylman-Sigal worked with Bragg and Assemblymember Grace Lee to introduce the Financial Payment Security Act, which would have forced peer-to-peer payment apps like Venmo and Zelle to add simple security regulations like PIN numbers.
“Regrettably, our bill was vetoed last session; however, we plan to once again advocate for its passage and signature this year because we believe that the corporations that own and operate these apps have a responsibility to limit fraud on their platforms,” Hoylman-Sigal said in a statement after the verdict. “The lack of security on peer-to-peer payment apps makes it easier for bad actors to exploit the users of their apps, which as we know from this tragic case, can have dire consequences.”