MS-13 Members Face More Charges In Machete Murder: Nassau DA

Four alleged MS-13 members were indicted for their part in the murder of a Uniondale teenager in the Massapequa Preserve in 2016, Nassau County District Attorney Madeline Singas said today.

Christian Rodriguez, 22, also known as Estricto, of Hempstead, and Jeustin David Maldonado, 20, also known as Muerte, of Uniondale, were charged with first- and second-degree conspiracy. Rodriguez was arraigned today and Maldonado was arriagned on Jan. 17. They are both due back in court on Feb. 10.

Raul Ponce, 21, also known as Shadow and Little Shadow, of Hempstead, and Gerson Stanley Juarez, 23, also known as Angel Black and Siniestro, of Hempstead, were also charged with first- and second-degree conspiracy. They were both already charged with second-degree murder in the case. They were both arraigned on Jan. 17. Ponce is due back in court on Feb. 19, and Juarez is due back on Feb. 11.

If convicted of the charges, the four could face up to life in prison.

“An 18-year old was simply walking his dog when he was invited to the park to smoke marijuana, but what he did not know is that members of MS-13 perceived him to be an enemy of the gang,” Singas said. “When Bryan Lemus arrived, he was lured into the park by people he believed to be his friends and violently hacked with machetes by multiple MS-13 members. I thank our partners at the Nassau County Police Department, Drug Enforcement Administration, Homeland Security Investigations and FBI Long Island Gang Task Force for their assistance in this case and the fight against MS-13 in Nassau County.”

On Aug. 23, 2016, Bryan Steven Cho Lemus, a perceived enemy of MS-13, was walking his dog on Arthur Street in Uniondale, when he was lured into the Massapequa Preserve with the promise of a party with drugs and sex, Singas said. While inside the park, Singas said, Lemus was allegedly killed with machetes by Rodriguez, Maldonado, Raul Ponce, Juarez, Samuel Ponce and others.

On May 24, 2019, Nassau County Police Department detectives, while canvassing Massapequa Park Preserve in search of Lemus’ body, discovered human remains. Those remains were positively identified as Lemus on June 3, 2019.

Raul Ponce’s brother, Samuel Ponce, 18, also known as Little Chickie, of Hempstead, was previously indicted for the murder. He faces a potential maximum of 15 years to life in prison.

Singas said that the investigation is ongoing.

Maldonado is also facing attempted murder charges in relation to the murder of 16-year-old Alexon Moya, of Uniondale. Moya was shot in the head on Dec. 13, 2017 while standing on the street with his friends.