NYC- Robbery crews drug unsuspecting men, some fatally, at bars and nightclubs, 2022 - Trial set for early 2025

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  • #1
Dec 24 2022 rbbm.
''NEW YORK (AP) — Multiple people have been fatally poisoned with narcotics in what investigators say were schemes by criminal crews to incapacitate and rob people at New York City bars and nightclubs.

The killings — at least five, according to police — stretch back months and appear to be the work of different crews, operating independently from each other but using similar tactics, police and prosecutors said Thursday.

Men surreptitiously slip revelers dangerous levels of drugs to knock them out, then take their wallets and phones, sometimes using their digital banking info to drain their accounts.

In March, Nurbu Sherpa, a 29-year-old chef, was found dead on the sidewalk after leaving a bar where he had been celebrating St. Patrick’s Day.

In April, Julio Ramirez, a 25-year-old social worker, died in a taxi after leaving a Manhattan bar with a group of men. Later, relatives discovered some of his savings had been stolen.

In May, John Umberger, a 33-year-old political consultant visiting from Washington D.C., was found dead of an apparent drug overdose in the townhouse where he was staying. Surveillance video showed him leaving a popular club being propped up by a group of men. Money was also taken from his bank account.

Other men have come forward with stories about being drugged by strangers and waking up to find money gone.''

Nobody should have to worry that a night out at a Manhattan bar with friends could end in tragedy,” Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg said.

At a news conference Thursday, New York Police Department Lt. Det. Dave Leonardi said some of the victims were given a mix of drugs including lidocaine, fentanyl and cocaine — with lidocaine being the substance that really incapacitated them.

The deaths of Ramirez and Umberger prompted concern that gay men were being targeted. Both died after leaving Manhattan LGBTQ bars. Some victims and their relatives have complained that the crimes weren’t treated with more urgency by police.''
 
  • #2
Dec 24 2022 rbbm.
''NEW YORK (AP) — Multiple people have been fatally poisoned with narcotics in what investigators say were schemes by criminal crews to incapacitate and rob people at New York City bars and nightclubs.

The killings — at least five, according to police — stretch back months and appear to be the work of different crews, operating independently from each other but using similar tactics, police and prosecutors said Thursday.

Men surreptitiously slip revelers dangerous levels of drugs to knock them out, then take their wallets and phones, sometimes using their digital banking info to drain their accounts.

In March, Nurbu Sherpa, a 29-year-old chef, was found dead on the sidewalk after leaving a bar where he had been celebrating St. Patrick’s Day.

In April, Julio Ramirez, a 25-year-old social worker, died in a taxi after leaving a Manhattan bar with a group of men. Later, relatives discovered some of his savings had been stolen.

In May, John Umberger, a 33-year-old political consultant visiting from Washington D.C., was found dead of an apparent drug overdose in the townhouse where he was staying. Surveillance video showed him leaving a popular club being propped up by a group of men. Money was also taken from his bank account.

Other men have come forward with stories about being drugged by strangers and waking up to find money gone.''

Nobody should have to worry that a night out at a Manhattan bar with friends could end in tragedy,” Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg said.

At a news conference Thursday, New York Police Department Lt. Det. Dave Leonardi said some of the victims were given a mix of drugs including lidocaine, fentanyl and cocaine — with lidocaine being the substance that really incapacitated them.

The deaths of Ramirez and Umberger prompted concern that gay men were being targeted. Both died after leaving Manhattan LGBTQ bars. Some victims and their relatives have complained that the crimes weren’t treated with more urgency by police.''
This is shocking.
 
  • #3
This is horrible. I hope the perps are caught.
 
  • #4
Dec 24 2022 rbbm.
''NEW YORK (AP) — Multiple people have been fatally poisoned with narcotics in what investigators say were schemes by criminal crews to incapacitate and rob people at New York City bars and nightclubs.

The killings — at least five, according to police — stretch back months and appear to be the work of different crews, operating independently from each other but using similar tactics, police and prosecutors said Thursday.

Men surreptitiously slip revelers dangerous levels of drugs to knock them out, then take their wallets and phones, sometimes using their digital banking info to drain their accounts.

In March, Nurbu Sherpa, a 29-year-old chef, was found dead on the sidewalk after leaving a bar where he had been celebrating St. Patrick’s Day.

In April, Julio Ramirez, a 25-year-old social worker, died in a taxi after leaving a Manhattan bar with a group of men. Later, relatives discovered some of his savings had been stolen.

In May, John Umberger, a 33-year-old political consultant visiting from Washington D.C., was found dead of an apparent drug overdose in the townhouse where he was staying. Surveillance video showed him leaving a popular club being propped up by a group of men. Money was also taken from his bank account.

Other men have come forward with stories about being drugged by strangers and waking up to find money gone.''

Nobody should have to worry that a night out at a Manhattan bar with friends could end in tragedy,” Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg said.

At a news conference Thursday, New York Police Department Lt. Det. Dave Leonardi said some of the victims were given a mix of drugs including lidocaine, fentanyl and cocaine — with lidocaine being the substance that really incapacitated them.

The deaths of Ramirez and Umberger prompted concern that gay men were being targeted. Both died after leaving Manhattan LGBTQ bars. Some victims and their relatives have complained that the crimes weren’t treated with more urgency by police.''
This is shocking and terrifying. Where are they obtaining liquid lidocaine? Wow!!!
 
  • #5
This is shocking and terrifying. Where are they obtaining liquid lidocaine? Wow!!!

I have a liquid form -- purchased as arthritis rub:

1671887716784.png

Absolutely no idea if this is anything like what these criminals are using!

The package reads 'cream' but it rolls on a clear liquid.

This is unscented -- I also have a hot/cold menthol version for times when I don't mind smelling like arthritis rub.
 
  • #6
Per linked article, at least one person was charged:

Many of the crimes remain unsolved, but the Manhattan district attorney on Thursday announced that one suspect, Kenwood Allen, of the Bronx, had been charged with murder in Sherpa’s death and in the killing of Ardijan Berisha, 26.

Berisha, of South Salem, New York, and a friend passed out on the sidewalk in July after drinking at a bar on Manhattan’s Lower East Side.

Allen drugged both of his victims with fentanyl, prosecutors said, then robbed them. He is accused in three other instances where victims survived.



Step toward justice for these men & their families!
 
  • #7
“There were enough cases reported that NYPD should have sounded the warning bells to say this is going on, people need to be careful, but they didn’t,” she said.

NYPD Chief of Detectives James Essig said robberies have occurred beyond the gay community.

“We don’t particularly think they’re targeting gay members,” he said. “This is based solely on monetary gain.”

Still, unease about possible targeting remains, especially in an environment when an anti-LGBTQ atmosphere has been felt around the country, said Beverly Tillary, executive director of the New York City Anti-Violence Project, an organization that advocates for LGBTQ communities.

“There’s some sense of being on edge,” she said, “and not knowing what might happen next in terms of attacks on our community.”
 
  • #8
  • #9
“We don’t particularly think they’re targeting gay members,” he said. “This is based solely on monetary gain.”
As a side note, some of the murders occurred in Hell's Kitchen.

Though its past reputation warranted the name, the Hells Kitchen of today is higher income and features many gay oriented bars and clubs with in easy walking distance of each other. The area is also close to Times Square.

Thus, criminals have many venues to look for victims in and the higher income / tourist nature of the area increases the chances of victims having descent amounts of money or valuables.
 
  • #10
Very lengthy article..
April 3 2023

''Man Charged in Deadly NYC Gay Bar Druggings; 2 Suspects Still at Large​

At least two separate NYC gangs are believed to be responsible for more than 40 drug-facilitated thefts, including some cases that turned deadly, two law enforcement officials say​

By Jonathan Dienst, Myles Miller, Jennifer Vazquez, Jennifer Millman and Tom Shea •''​

''What to Know​

  • Two men, a social worker and a political consultant from Washington, D.C., were found dead in separate incidents after leaving gay bars in Hell's Kitchen in 2022, both had thousands of dollars stolen from their accounts
  • They died of a toxic drug combination, their autopsies found; in July, an acclaimed fashion designer was found dead in her Manhattan apartment of another toxic narcotic combo -- those three deaths may be linked to two separate ongoing overdose robbery patterns, law enforcement officials say
  • Six suspects have been indicted in the first pattern; law enforcement officials say that crew is thought to be behind 17 robberies and the deaths of Julio Ramirez and John Umberger; the second is thought to be responsible for 26, including the death of Kathryn Gallagher
One of the three men wanted in connection to the overdose deaths of two men who visited Manhattan gay bars last year has been arrested.

Law enforcement sources said Jacob Barroso, a 30-year-old from New Britain, Connecticut, is now in custody and faces charges of murder, robbery, grand larceny and conspiracy. Two other men, Jayqwan Hamilton and Robert Demaio, remain at large.

Police tracking the work of a major robbery ring identified the three men Saturday in connection to the deaths of Julio Ramirez and John Umberger, who after a night out in Hell's Kitchen, were each found dead from acute intoxication. The medical examiner's office said multiple drugs, including fentanyl, heroin, cocaine and lidocaine, were found in their systems.''
 
  • #11
Very lengthy article..
April 3 2023

''Man Charged in Deadly NYC Gay Bar Druggings; 2 Suspects Still at Large​

At least two separate NYC gangs are believed to be responsible for more than 40 drug-facilitated thefts, including some cases that turned deadly, two law enforcement officials say​

By Jonathan Dienst, Myles Miller, Jennifer Vazquez, Jennifer Millman and Tom Shea •''​

''What to Know​

  • Two men, a social worker and a political consultant from Washington, D.C., were found dead in separate incidents after leaving gay bars in Hell's Kitchen in 2022, both had thousands of dollars stolen from their accounts
  • They died of a toxic drug combination, their autopsies found; in July, an acclaimed fashion designer was found dead in her Manhattan apartment of another toxic narcotic combo -- those three deaths may be linked to two separate ongoing overdose robbery patterns, law enforcement officials say
  • Six suspects have been indicted in the first pattern; law enforcement officials say that crew is thought to be behind 17 robberies and the deaths of Julio Ramirez and John Umberger; the second is thought to be responsible for 26, including the death of Kathryn Gallagher
One of the three men wanted in connection to the overdose deaths of two men who visited Manhattan gay bars last year has been arrested.

Law enforcement sources said Jacob Barroso, a 30-year-old from New Britain, Connecticut, is now in custody and faces charges of murder, robbery, grand larceny and conspiracy. Two other men, Jayqwan Hamilton and Robert Demaio, remain at large.

Police tracking the work of a major robbery ring identified the three men Saturday in connection to the deaths of Julio Ramirez and John Umberger, who after a night out in Hell's Kitchen, were each found dead from acute intoxication. The medical examiner's office said multiple drugs, including fentanyl, heroin, cocaine and lidocaine, were found in their systems.''

Kathryn has a thread here:

 
Last edited:
  • #12
I have a liquid form -- purchased as arthritis rub:

View attachment 389700

Absolutely no idea if this is anything like what these criminals are using!

The package reads 'cream' but it rolls on a clear liquid.

This is unscented -- I also have a hot/cold menthol version for times when I don't mind smelling like arthritis rub.
There are also oral forms of liquid lidocaine that I assume are used in dentistry. FWIW :oops: & :mad:
 
  • #13
In the opening statements of a murder trial, prosecutors described a “deadly conspiracy” to befriend men leaving gay bars and clubs, slip them intoxicants and steal from them. The two men who were killed, Julio Ramirez and John Umberger, were victims in a string of at least five robberies that rocked New York’s L.G.B.T.Q. community and spread terror throughout the city, as revelers worried about being drugged, perhaps fatally, by just a few sips of a drink.
 
  • #14
  • #15
I saw this on the news tonight, and wondered if there was a thread here.

Thanks for the update!
1739234385028.png
Suspects. Jayqwan Hamilton, 36; Robert Demaio, 35; and Jacob Barroso, 30,
February 10, 2025
''The trio were also implicated in the cases of other men who were drugged and robbed, as were two other defendants, Shane Hoskins and Andre Butts, who previously pleaded guilty.
Hamilton, DeMaio and Barroso could face the rest of their lives in prison following their convictions.''
 
  • #16
Bet authorities are reopening some old investigations.
 
  • #17
On February 10, after four hours of deliberations, the jury found Hamilton, Barroso, and DeMaio guilty of all robbery, conspiracy, and murder charges against them in connection to Ramirez’s death, as well as additional guilty verdicts against Hamilton and DeMaio for burglary and Umberger’s murder.

The men could face anywhere from 25 years to life in prison
 

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