6 Alleged MS-13 Members Charged in 2 Murders: DA

Six alleged members of MS-13 were indicted in Nassau County court for their roles in two murders that happened just days apart in Far Rockaway and Lawrence last December.

Yonathan Sanchez, 22, aka Turbo, and Carlos Guerra, 18, both of Far Rockaway, are each charged with two counts of second-degree murder, two counts of first-degree conspiracy, two counts of second-degree conspiracy and four counts of second-degree criminal possession of a weapon.

Elmer Gutierrez, 19, aka Revolver, of Valley Stream, is charged with second-degree murder, two counts of first-degree conspiracy, two counts of second-degree conspiracy and two counts of second-degree criminal possession of a weapon.

All three are due back in court on May 2 and could face up to life in prison in convicted.

In addition, two 15-year old boys and a 13-year old girl were also indicted for their alleged roles in the homicides. One 15-year old boy and the 13-year old female allegedly participated in the Far Rockaway homicide and are charged with second-degree murder. All are also charged with second-degree murder for the Lawrence homicide. They will be prosecuted in Youth Court.

“These defendants allegedly targeted two young Far Rockaway men, lured them to local parks and ruthlessly murdered them due to perceived slights and to gain status in MS-13,” said Nassau County District Attorney Madeline Singas. “This case is particularly tragic because two families have lost their sons, and three juveniles are alleged to have participated in these murders. Due to extraordinary police work and collaboration, we were able to arrest these defendants and stop this murderous crime spree.”

Under New York State law, an offense committed within five hundred yards of the boundary between two counties may be prosecuted in either county, which is why the Far Rockaway murder is being prosecuted in Nassau.

According to Singas, on Dec. 15, 2018, 23-year old Far Rockaway resident Ian Cruz, a perceived enemy of MS-13, was lured to Bayswater Point State Park in Far Rockaway with the promise of drugs and sex. He allegedly met the 13-year-old girl and then walked to the park, while Sanchez, Guerra and one of the 15-year olds hid in the park armed with a gun and knives. Sanchez allegedly emerged from the bushes and shot Cruz four times in the head with a .22 caliber revolver. The defendants took Cruz’s belongings and fled to a Nameoke Street apartment where Sanchez and Guerra lived.

Singas said that the group allegedly planned Cruz’s murder, and photographs of Cruz allegedly disrespecting MS-13 were circulated among them.

Cruz was found in his underwear and on top of a blanket by a park-goer the following day.

On Dec. 17, Harold Sermeno, 17, of Far Rockaway, was lured to the Five Towns Community Center in Lawrence. He and the 13-year-old female arrived at a park on the property and began to drink and smoke marijuana at a picnic table. At that point, Singas said the five others, armed with a gun and knives, waited in strategic areas in the park. Sanchez then emerged and allegedly shot Sermeno four times in the head and once in the chest with a .22 revolver. Gutierrez allegedly sliced the victim’s neck with a machete.

The six defendants then allegedly fled to the same apartment in Far Rockaway.

Sermeno was found the following morning by a person walking their dog.

Police officers recovered the machete that was allegedly used in the murder of Sermeno and a .22 caliber revolver that was allegedly used in both murders at the Nameoke apartment.

Sanchez, Guerra, Gutierrez and two juveniles were arrested on Dec. 20, 2018 in Far Rockaway by members of the NYPD. The sixth defendant, a juvenile, was arrested on Dec. 28, 2018, by members of the NYPD and NCPD.

Singas said that five of the six were in the country illegally, either having entered as unaccompanied minors or by overstaying their visas.

“Gangs do not respect human life. They don’t respect each other, and they certainly do not respect geographical boundaries and border lines," said John M. Ryan, the chief assistant district attorney for the Queens DA's office. "We have two horrific incidents where young men were allegedly lured to their deaths by younger individuals and then pounced upon by reputed MS-13 gang members. The victims were viciously killed within days of each other and just miles apart. One homicide occurred in Queens County and the other in Nassau County. To seek justice for the 17-year-old and 23-year-old victims, we felt the two cases would be more effectively prosecuted in one county."