The Manhattan District Attorney indicted five men on Tuesday for allegedly drugging suspects before robbing or killing them.
Manhattan DA Jayquan Hamilton, 35, of Brooklyn, Robert Demaio, 34, of Brooklyn, Jacob Barroso, 29, of New Britain, Connecticut, Andre Butre, 27, of Brooklyn, and Shane Hoskins, 30, of New York City, was indicted by Alvin Bragg, Mayor Eric Adams, and New York City Police Commissioner Keechant Sewell.
Drug-Fueled Manhattan Bar Robbers Are Arrested
All five suspects were charged with first-degree robbery, fourth-degree conspiracy, and multiple counts of identity theft and grand theft.
Five men are accused of drugging people they met outside of nightclubs and bars in order to steal their cell phones, credit cards, and other personal information, according to a press release from Bragg’s office. Hamilton, Demaio, and Barroso are also accused of second-degree murder.
According to the press release, between March 2021 and July 2022, the five men participated in a scheme to forcibly steal property from victims while under the influence of drugs.
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Nightclub Robbery Scheme Overdose Deaths
On April 8, 2022, for instance, Hamilton, Barroso, Butts, and Hoskins allegedly approached a 22-year-old in a nightclub in midtown, entered the victim’s apartment, offered the victim and another person drugs, and then stole a cell phone, laptop, wallet, credit card, and prescription medications.
On April 21, 2022, Hamilton and Barroso met Julio Ramirez in front of the Ritz Bar.
Ramirez died from an overdose of heroin, fentanyl, and P-fluoro fentanyl, according to the press release.
The suspects are then accused of stealing several items, including a cell phone, from Ramirez, before Demaio, who was charged as an accessory, allegedly conducted several unauthorized $3,200 transactions.
Hamilton and Butts were also charged with using Ramirez’s phone’s stored credit card information to buy sneakers.
Umberger was discovered dead in his apartment approximately 1.5 hours later with fentanyl, P-fluoro fentanyl, and other drugs in his system.
Hamilton is accused of stealing thousands of dollars from Umberger’s credit card accounts, and he and Butts are accused of making unauthorized purchases totaling over $3,500.
The investigation is ongoing, and anyone who believes they have been victimized in a similar manner is encouraged to call the helpline at 212-335-9040.
The district attorney’s office also disclosed that it is looking into a different set of fatal overdoses, and that investigation will lead to Kenwood Allen’s indictment in December 2022.
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