5 MS-13 Members Arrested On Murder, Drugs, Weapons Charges: DA

Five alleged members of MS-13 were indicted on Wednesday on weapons and drug charges, and one was charged in the murder of 15-year-old Angel Soler.

The five were charged in a 16-count indictment with various crimes, including second-degree murder, drug and weapons charges, and conspiracy. Their arrests come from an investigation that led to a 21-count indictment unveiled in January that charged 17 MS-13 members and associates with murder, conspiracy to commit murder and drug trafficking in Nassau County and nationally.

“I am grateful that the groundbreaking investigative work of my office, the DEA and our partners continues to provide information to help to dismantle MS-13 and to prosecute its members,” said District Attorney Madeline Singas said. “I am especially thankful that we have been able to indict another participant in the vicious murder of a 15-year old boy. I am determined to continue doing everything possible to eradicate MS-13 and the terror it brings from Nassau County.”

According to Singas, Dennis Lopez, aka Maliante, murdered 15-year-old Angel Soler on July 21, 2017. Soler’s body was mutilated, bearing injuries consistent with the use of a machete, and he suffered blunt force trauma to the head. He was left buried until his remains were discovered under cement on Oct. 19, 2017 in a remote wooded area in Roosevelt, just south of the Southern State Parkway.

Maliante is a member of MS-13’s Hollywood Clique, Singas said. The alleged head of the Long Island chapter of the Hollywood clique, David Sosa Guevara, aka Risky, and Victor Lopez, were previously indicted for the murder of Angel Soler. A fourth alleged gang member, Josue Antonio Figueroa Velasquez, was arrested by members of the Nassau County Police Department in May on murder charges related to Soler’s death.

Lopez, 18, of Freeport, was charged with second-degree murder. He was remanded and is due back in court Sept. 14.

“The heinous machete attack on Angel Soler cements the link between members and associates of MS-13 with gang violence and drug trafficking," said DEA Special Agent in Charge James Hunt. "I commend our partners whose collaboration acts as a force multiplier in law enforcement's efforts to keep America safe from gang and drug-related crime.”

Additionally, Singas said that the original MS-13 investigation that resulted in the January indictment also lead to an investigation of Ramon Martines, Jairon Gudiel, Raul Ponce and Jose Echeverrio.

On Jan. 15, 2018, Singas said the four were approached by members of the Nassau County Police Department on Costar Street in New Cassel. A loaded .32 Smith & Wesson revolver was allegedly recovered from the glove compartment of the vehicle that the four were in. Singas said that marijuana was also recovered. A subsequent search was executed on homes located in Hempstead and Uniondale believed to be associated with Martines and/or Gudiel, and Singas said investigators found 16 small bags of cocaine, a .32 Colt Revolver, firearm silencers and drug packaging paraphernalia.

Martines, aka Cruzito, is alleged to be the leader of the Hempstead Locos Salvatrucha clique of MS-13, while Gudiel, Ponce, and Echeverrio are believed to be MS-13 members or associates.

Ramon Martines, 35, of Hempstead, was arraigned on Aug. 14 and charged with third- and fourth-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, second-degree criminal possession of a weapon, five counts of third-degree criminal possession of a weapon, three counts of fourth-degree conspiracy, criminal possession of a firearm, second-degree criminally using drug paraphernalia, seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance and unlawful possession of marijuana. He is due back in court on Sept. 19.

Jairon Gudiel, 22, of West Hempstead, was arraigned on Aug. 20. He was charged with third- and fourth-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, second-degree criminal possession of a weapon, five counts of third-degree criminal possession of a weapon, three counts of fourth-degree conspiracy, criminal possession of a firearm, second-degree criminally using drug paraphernalia and unlawful possession of marijuana. He is due back in court on Sept. 14.

Echeverrio, 28, of Westbury, was arraigned on Aug. 3. He pleaded guilty to second-degree criminal possession of a weapon. He is due back in court on Sept. 13.

Raul Ponce, 20, of Hempstead was arraigned on Aug. 17. He was charged with second- and third-degree criminal possession of a weapon and unlawful possession of marijuana. He is due back in court on Sept. 4.

“The indictment of defendant Dennis Lopez on murder in the second degree for the vicious death of 15-year old Angel Soler is just another example of how the combined efforts of law enforcement are aggressively bringing these criminals to justice," said Nassau County Police Commissioner Patrick Ryder. "Every time that we prevail in an arrest and successful prosecution of these gang members, the result is that it makes our communities safer and our residents can walk their streets without intimidation. All of our law enforcement partners will continue to work together so that justice will prevail.”

Photo courtesy Nassau County District Attorney's Office