The Public Ministry’s request for pretrial detention against the JetSet Club managers, sister and brother Maribel and Antonio Espaillat, is largely built on the testimonies of two employees of the Jet Set nightclub, Gregorio Adames Arias (known as Gregory) and Manuel Jiménez Mateo. Both witnesses claim they repeatedly warned the owners about the deteriorating condition of the venue’s roof and described gross mismanagement that preceded the tragic collapse that resulted in the death of at least 236.
According to documents obtained by Noticias SIN, Adames has become the prosecution’s key witness, offering to the state prosecutors a chilling account of events on the night of 7 April 2025, when the roof of the iconic nightclub caved in during a concert by merengue star Rubby Pérez.
Gregory Adames revealed he had tried to stop the concert due to the visible damage to the ceiling. Moments before the collapse, he was speaking with prominent banker Eduardo “Lalo” Grullón, who had asked for the check and was preparing to leave. Gregory says he turned toward the bar just in time to avoid the falling debris. Grullón, along with his wife, sister, and brother-in-law, died in the collapse.
The witness also claims Maribel Espaillat tried to discredit him in a media interview after the incident, falsely stating that he had died. He alleges she later visited him personally, attempting to silence him out of fear that his testimony could result in a 20-year prison sentence for her brother, Antonio. Gregory told prosecutors he feared for his life after that encounter.
One of the most disturbing details in his statement is that the emergency exits were locked at the time of the collapse, forcing attendees to break them open in a frantic effort to escape.
Full statement from Gregorio Adames Arias (Excerpted from the Public Ministry’s filing):
Gregory stated he worked at Jet Set as the reservations and operations manager and reported directly to Maribel and Antonio Espaillat. He was considered a trusted employee. He testified that the ceiling tiles were frequently replaced due to persistent water leaks—not due to air conditioning issues as previously claimed by Antonio Espaillat. Gregory directly contradicts Antonio’s public statements, calling them false.
From 2023 onwards, he said, between six and seven layers of a sealing compound (“fino”) were applied to the roof in an attempt to manage the leaks. Maintenance was handled by Manuel Jiménez, another employee, with help from a man named José Luis and two Haitian workers known by the nicknames “Caballito” and “El Grande.”
Gregory testified that every time a leak occurred, he reported it directly to Antonio Espaillat. Materials were purchased under the name of “Inversiones E y L.” The roof supported several heavy elements: six or seven AC units, three full water tanks, and large ducts covered by metal housings. Rainwater often entered through these ducts and into the venue.
In an attempt to manage the ongoing leaks, tarps were placed above the ceiling tiles to collect water, which staff would later remove and reposition.
The most recent air conditioning units were installed in 2023 or 2024 by a technician named Enmanuel Mejía. During this work, the surface was often uneven, causing water to pool. Eventually, the equipment was shifted and the sealing compound was reapplied.
Gregory recounted that on Saturday, 5 April 2025, parts of the ceiling collapsed. He appears in a video picking up the fallen tiles. On Monday, 7 April, he arrived early to prepare for that evening’s show and found the damage still unrepaired. He contacted Antonio Espaillat again to warn him, saying chunks of the roof were actively falling and breaking ceiling tiles.
He shared with prosecutors a WhatsApp conversation from that afternoon in which he warned Antonio of the dangers. He also detailed the size of the crowd that night: 379 paid attendees, plus between 47 and 57 guests, staff, and additional walk-ins, totaling around 570 people.
That same evening, before the show began, a man named Remberto Durán was struck on the shoulder by debris and warned Maribel Espaillat that the event needed to be canceled. According to Gregory, she responded that only Antonio could make that decision.
Shortly afterward, Gregory was speaking with Lalo Grullón when the banker asked for the check. As Gregory turned toward the bar, the roof gave way. He later called Antonio Espaillat at 12:46am to inform him of the disaster.
Gregory expressed shock when Maribel later told Diario Libre that he had died—despite having spoken with him several times after the collapse. He says she later approached him to say the information he had could put her brother behind bars for 20 years and warned him not to speak out.
Fearing for his safety, Gregory voluntarily handed over his cellphone to prosecutors.
The testimonies, filled with graphic and troubling details, now form the backbone of the prosecution’s case as they seek coercive measures against the Espaillat siblings.
The hearings of the case are scheduled to resume on Wednesday, 18 June 2025 when the judge could announce the pre-trial custody measures for Antonio and Maribel Espaillat.
Read more in Spanish:
Noticias SIN
Noticias SIN
Diario Libre
7 Dias
El Informe con Alicia Ortega
7 Dias
18 June 2025