Three Alleged MS-13 Members Arraigned In Massapequa Murder

Three alleged members of MS-13 were indicted on Friday in the 2017 murder of 18-year-old Julio Espantzay-Gonzalez inside the Massapequa Park Preserve.

Carlos Portillo, aka Picachu, 23; Kevin Granados-Coreas, aka Lonely, 19; and Laura Campos, aka Salvi, 28, all of Hempstead, were all charged in the death of the teenager in January 2017. Portillo was indicted today, and Granados-Coreas and Campos were indicted on Feb. 14.

“These defendants allegedly attempted to move up the MS-13 hierarchy by luring their teenage victim into the woods and brutally murdering him,” said District Attorney Madeline Singas. “We are committed to holding these alleged predators accountable for this horrific crime, and will continue to collaborate with our law enforcement partners at every level to end MS-13’s reign of terror.”

According to Singas, on Jan. 28, 2017, 18-year-old Julio Espantzay-Gonzalez was hacked to death with a machete and shot several times. His semi-buried body was discovered inside the Massapequa Park Preserve on March 23, 2017 by a man walking his dog. Singas said the three alleged gang members acted together to lure the victim to the park with the promise of sex and drugs, believing he was a member of the rival 18th Street gang and killed him to gain stature in MS-13.

Portillo and Granados-Coreas were arrested by Nassau County police on July 29, 2017 and Aug. 15, 2017 respectively, and Laura Campos was arrested in Maryland on Sept. 22, 2017.

All three were charged with second-degree murder. If convicted, they can face 25 years to life in prison.

Photos: Nassau County District Attorney's office