7 Suffolk MS-13 Members, Associates, Charged In 'Horrific' Gang Assault, Kidnapping: DA

SUFFOLK COUNTY, NY — Seven alleged members and associates of the Huntington Criminal Locates Salvatrucha or "HCLS" clique of the MS-13 street gang were indicted in connection with the robbing, kidnapping and assault of a teenager, Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond Tierney said Friday.

A 15-year-old boy was attacked on Jan. 6, the DA said.

"This indictment is an example of my office's dedication and commitment to ensuring that gang members and associates who commit violence in Suffolk County are investigated and prosecuted to the fullest extent," Tierney said. "The allegations of this indictment are horrific. Gang violence has no place in Suffolk County, and it will not be tolerated."

On the morning of Jan. 6, the 15-year-old boy was lured to the Huntington Train Station by a minor, officials said. While at the train station, five of seven co-defendants, Josue Zepeda Padilla, Brayan Jimenez Avila, Yeison Chavez Campos, Maycoll Ramirez Cerrato, and Marcos Serpos, displayed a knife while surrounding the teenager, the DA said. They stole his money and property and took turns punching and kicking him, prosecutors said.

The five then forced the boy into a car driven by Maybelline Garcia Cornejo, who then drove the teenager and the five others to the Pilgrim Psychiatric Center in Brentwood, investigators said. While on way to Pilgrim Psychiatric Center, one of the defendants forcefully took the boy's cellphone, prosecutors said.

Once the gang and teenager arrived on the grounds of the Pilgrim Psychiatric Center, the gang forced the boy to climb through a hole in the wall of an abandoned building, authorities said. While inside, each of the men then punched, kicked, and beat the victim, officials said. During the assault, Zepeda Padilla stabbed the teen in the neck, causing a cut that required stitches to close, prosecutors said. One of the men then hit the boy on the head with a hard object believed to be a rock, knocking the victim unconscious and fracturing his skull, the DA said.

When the teenager re-gained consciousness, he found a way out of the building and walked down
the road until he collapsed, only to be found by someone passing by, investigators said. The boy required surgery, including a craniotomy, to treat the brain bleed and fractured skull, officials said.

Zepeda Padilla, 26, of Huntington Station; Jimenez Avila, 23, of Amityville and Huntington Station; Chavez Campos, 21, of Huntington Station; Ramirez Cerrato, 18, of Huntington Station; Serpos, 19, of Huntington Station; and Garcia Corenjo, 22, of Seaford, were each indicted on one count of first-degree robbery; one count of first-degree gang assault; one count of first-degree assault; one count of second-degree kidnapping; one count of first-degree attempted assault; one count of second-degree gang assault; three counts of second-degree robbery; and two counts of second-degree assault.

The minor who lured the teenager was indicted for one count of first-degree robbery; two counts of second-degree robbery; and one count of fourth-degree criminal facilitation.

Zepeda Padilla remains at large as of Friday, the DA said.

Ramirez Cerrato was ordered held on $500K cash, $1 million bond or $5 million partially-secured bond. He is due back in court on March 4 and is being represented by Ian Fitzgerald.

Chavez Campos was ordered held on $250K cash, $500K bond or $2.5 million partially-secured bond. He is due back in court ob Feb. 23 and is being represented by Pierre Bazile.

Serpos was ordered held on $500K cash, $1 million bond or $5 million partially-secured bond. He is due back in court on Feb. 23 and is being represented by Xavier Palacios.

Garcia Cornejo was ordered held on $250K cash, $500K bond or $2.5 million partially-secured bond. He is due back in court Feb. 20 and is being represented by Peter Mayer.

Jimenez Avila was ordered held on $500K cash, $1 million bond or $5 million partially-secured bond. He is due back in court on March 4 and is being represented by George Duncan.

The minor was ordered held on $125K cash, $250K bond or $2.5 million partially-secured bond. They are due back in court on March 4 and are being represented by Robert Tsigler.

Anyone with information regarding Zepeda Padilla's whereabouts were asked to contact the Suffolk County Police Department or Crime Stoppers at: 1-800-220-TIPS.