Three men were convicted of murder in a conspiracy to rob men leaving Manhattan nightclubs and bars late at night, plying them with potent and dangerous drugs and draining their bank accounts once they were incapacitated. The 2022 deaths of Julio Ramirez, a 25-year-old social worker, and John Umberger, a 33-year-old political consultant, were the result of “drug-facilitated thefts” and homicides, the medical examiner’s office said. Ramirez died in a taxi of an overdose while Umberger was found dead in a townhouse, the Associated Press reports..Lab tests showed both men had substances including fentanyl, cocaine and lidocaine in their systems when they died. Their families suspected foul play after discovering money missing from the men’s bank accounts.
“These defendants were motivated by greed, and their callous behavior left two young men dead,” said Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg. Jayqwan Hamilton, 37, Robert Demaio, 36, and Jacob Barroso, 32 were convicted of murder, conspiracy and robbery and face 25 years to life in prison. All three were convicted of the death of Ramirez; Demaio and Hamilton were convicted in Umberger’s killing. Prosecutors said the group targeted men at bars and clubs, befriending them and offering them drugs. When the victims became incapacitated, they were robbed of their wallets and cellphones, which were used to make purchases and digitally siphon money from their bank accounts. Police identified at least five killings, including the deaths of Umberger and Ramirez. The deaths were attributed to different groups that used similar tactics but seemed to be operating independently.