Three Men Get Decades Behind Bars For Deadly NYC Gay Bar Drugging Spree
Sentencing delivered, but heartbreak remains for families of murdered gay men in Manhattan drugging case.
Three men who terrorised New York’s gay nightlife scene will spend decades behind bars for a deadly drugging scheme that claimed two innocent lives.
Three men sentenced to decades in prison for murder in NYC gay bar drugging schemehttps://t.co/KoMpuKdicI
— Shawn Griffin (@509ShawnG) May 22, 2025
DNA has previously reported the shocking convictions in this case. On Wednesday, a Manhattan judge sentenced the trio to lengthy prison terms for their roles in a calculated murder and robbery operation that targeted patrons at popular city gay bars.
Jayqwan Hamilton, 37, Jacob Barroso, 32, and Robert DeMaio, 36, were convicted earlier this year of murder, robbery, and conspiracy. The men were part of a group that preyed on clubgoers, luring them outside bars, drugging them until they passed out, then using their phones to steal thousands via payment apps.
All three men were convicted in connection with Ramirez’s murder, but only Hamilton and DeMaio were also found guilty of killing Umberger. On Wednesday, Hamilton and DeMaio were each sentenced to 40 years to life in prison, while Barroso received 20 years to life.
The victims included Julio Ramirez, 25, who was a social worker. John Umberger, 33, was a political consultant visiting from Washington, DC. They both died in spring 2022 after falling victim to the same calculated plan.
“It Was Evil”
In court, Judge Felicia Mennin did not hold back. “This was a cold and calculated pattern,” she said. “I pity your lack of empathy. But pity will not translate into leniency in this case.”
Ramirez’s brother, Carlos, told the court: “What happened to my brother wasn’t just tragic. It was intentional… it was evil.” He urged the judge to hand down life sentences, calling the men a threat to society. His parents also spoke, sharing their grief and demanding “real justice”.
Umberger’s mother, Linda Clary, called her son’s death “preventable” and “the greatest pain in the world”. Her voice cracked as she recalled prosecutors showing a video of the night her son was killed. It was filmed by the offenders inside the townhouse where he was found dead — they were seen partying and celebrating, just metres from his lifeless body. “I would like to pause for 13 seconds to acknowledge the video that was made while my son died, and you did nothing to help,” she told them.
How Did This Go Unnoticed for So Long?
The scheme lasted more than a year, between March 2021 and June 2022. But it wasn’t until NBC News reported on Ramirez’s mysterious death in May 2022 that the wider public began paying attention.
He was found unconscious in the back of a taxi after meeting the men outside The Ritz, a gay bar in Hell’s Kitchen. Umberger was found dead in a nearby townhouse just days later, after meeting two of the same men outside The Q, which has since closed.
Toxicology reports showed both had fentanyl in their systems, along with lidocaine and cocaine. Prosecutors said the drug mix was used to knock victims out. Once unconscious, the group used facial recognition to unlock phones and drain bank accounts.
More Victims, More Arrests
Prosecutors believe this wasn’t an isolated group or incident. Other men came forward in 2022, reporting near-identical encounters. Authorities confirmed a similar ring was operating in the Lower East Side at the same time, leading to additional deaths and arrests.
Three other men—Eddie Ashley, Shane Hoskins, and Andre Butts—were also arrested allegedly in connection with the same scheme and pleaded guilty.
Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, who attended the sentencing, has since called on third-party payment apps to adopt stricter protections to prevent this kind of abuse. “We want to stop this type of deadly conduct from occurring at all,” he told reporters. “Part of the solution lies in addressing the profit motive that was the basis for the conspiracy.”
Still So Many Questions
Why did it take public outrage for the case to gain traction? Could more lives have been saved with earlier intervention?
In response to growing pressure from the community and survivors, New York officials launched a program in 2023 to review unsolved cases involving LGBTQIA+ victims of drugging and robbery. Critics say the original response was slow and dismissive. Authorities maintain they handled the cases appropriately.
For the families of Julio Ramirez and John Umberger, there is some sense of justice, but no real closure. Their sons are still gone. For many others, the story is a chilling reminder of how quickly a night out can turn deadly.
