MS-13 Lieutenant Gets 23 Years To Life For Murder Of Nassau Teen

MINEOLA, NY — A high-ranking MS-13 member was sentenced to 23 years to life in prison Tuesday for his part in the murder of a 15-year-old Nassau teenager in 2017. Victor Lopez, 31, of Roosevelt, pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and second- and fourth-degree conspiracy for the murder of 15-year-old Angel Soler, who was a perceived enemy of the gang. Lopez went by the name Persa.

Lopez's associate, David Sosa-Guevara, 28, of Wyandanch, was sentenced to 24 years to life in prison on Feb. 7 for his role in the crime. Sosa-Guevara went by the name Risky.

"A 15-year-old boy was brutally murdered because this gang perceived this child as an 'enemy,'" Nassau County District Attorney Madeline Singas said. "Today’s life sentence of this gang lieutenant and last week’s life sentence of the MS-13 clique’s leader has dealt a significant blow to this criminal organization. We will continue to fight against any resurgence of MS-13 with all our dedicated law enforcement partners until they are eradicated from Nassau County."

Singas said Lopez was a high-ranking lieutenant in MS-13's Hollywood Clique on Long Island and a close associate of Sosa-Guevara, the leader of the clique. Lopez oversaw members of the Hollywood Clique and directed enforcement within the gang.

Soler was killed July 21, 2017. His body was mutilated with a machete and he suffered blunt-force trauma to the head. His body was buried under cement in a wooded area of Roosevelt near the Southern State Parkway and discovered on Oct. 19, 2017.

Lopez admitted to luring Soler to the location so he could be killed. Lopez was arrested by the Nassau County Police Department Jan. 11, 2018.