Three Men Face Life for NYC Drugging Scheme

Three men, Jayqwan Hamilton, Robert Demaio, and Jacob Barroso, were convicted of murder, robbery, and conspiracy for a scheme that involved drugging and robbing men leaving Manhattan nightclubs. This operation targeted victims like Julio Ramirez and John Umberger, resulting in their deaths in 2022 from overdoses of fentanyl, cocaine, and other substances. The trio preyed on individuals in the LGBTQ+ community, incapacitating them with drugs to steal their phones and siphon money from their bank accounts. Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg stated that the men were driven by greed, and their actions left families grieving. The convictions were part of a broader criminal pattern involving other victims who survived, and two additional defendants have pleaded guilty to related charges. The convicted men face potential life sentences, providing some solace to the victims' families.