7 MS-13 Members Indicted For Massapequa Preserve Slaying: DA

Seven alleged members of MS-13 have now been indicted in the murder of a 19-year-old man in the Massapequa Preserve in 2017.

Nassau County District Attorney Madeline Singas said that the seven conspired to murder 19-year-old Julio Cesar Espantzay on Jan. 28, 2017, perceiving him as an enemy of the gang.

Singas said that Kevin Granados-Coreas told Roberto Abrego-Reyes, Carlos Portillo and Antonio Cullal that Espantzay was an enemy of the gang. They then lured Espantzay to the Massapequa Preserve with the promise of sex and drugs, Singas said. To help lure him to the park, one of the gang members befriended him, according to Singas.

Once they were at the preserve, Singas said that Granados-Coreas and Cullal, along with defendants Raul Ponce and Gerson Stanley Juarez, hacked Espantzay to death with a machete, and then buried his body under tree branches, leaves and brush.

Singas said that Abrego-Reyes told Granados-Coreas and Cullal to commit the murder, and told Laura Campos to drive all of the defendants to the preserve that night.

Espantzay’s body was discovered in March 23, 2017 by a man walking his dog in the preserve.

Portillo, Granados-Coreas, Cullal, Abrego-Reyes and Campos were all previously indicted for second-degree murder.

“These defendants lured a 19-year-old into the woods and hacked him to death because they believed him to be an enemy of MS-13,” Singas said. “Thanks to law enforcement collaboration, MS-13 is on the run in Nassau, and we will ensure these alleged violent murderers are held accountable for this horrific crime.”

Raul Ponce, aka Shadow and Little Shadow, 21, of Hempstead, was arraigned Oct. 8 and charged with second-degree murder and second-degree conspiracy. He faces up to life in prison if convicted of the top charge.

Gerson Stanley Juarez, aka Angel Black, 23, of Hempstead, was arraigned Oct. 8 and charged with second-degree murder and second-degree conspiracy. He faces up to life in prison if convicted of the top charge.

Carlos Portillo, aka Pikachu, 24, of Hempstead, was arraigned Oct. 7 and charged with second-degree conspiracy. He faces up to 25 years in prison if convicted of the top charge.

Kevin Granados-Coreas, aka Lonely, 21, of Rosedale, Queens, was arraigned Oct. 16 and charged with second-degree conspiracy. He faces up to 25 years in prison if convicted of the top charge.

Antonio Cullal, aka Duke, 25, of Hempstead, was arraigned Oct. 8 and charged with second-degree conspiracy. He faces up to 25 years in prison if convicted of the top charge.

Roberto Abrego-Reyes aka Splinter, 25, of Hempstead, was arraigned Nov. and charged with second-degree conspiracy. He faces up to 25 years in prison if convicted of the top charge.

Laura Campos, aka Salvi, 30, of Maryland, was arraigned Oct. 28 and charged with second-degree conspiracy. He faces up to 25 years in prison if convicted of the top charge.