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MS-13 Member Admits To 2017 Murder In Preserve On Long Island

An alleged MS-13 gang member admitted to his role in luring a teen to a Long Island park with the promise of sex and drugs before butchering him to death with machetes, the District Attorney’s Office announced.

Antonio Cullal

Antonio Cullal

Photo Credit: Nassau County Police

Antonio Cullal, also known as “Duke” pleaded guilty on Tuesday, June 15 to multiple charges for his role in the 2017 murder of Julio Cesar Espantzay-Gonzales in the Massapequa Park Preserve.

Acting Nassau County District Attorney Joyce Smith said that Espantzay-Gonzales, who was 19 at the time, was reported missing on Jan. 31, 2017, before his body was found by a dog-walker in the Massapequa Park Preserve months later on March 23.

Smith said that the victim was allegedly lured to the woods on Jan. 28, 2017, by Kevin Granados-Coreas and others with promises of sex and marijuana.

Once in the Preserve, Cullal, Granados-Coreas AKA "Lonely”, Raul Ponce, AKA “Shadow,” and Gerson Stanley Jaurez AKA "Angel Black,” allegedly hacked Espantzay-Gonzales to death with machetes.

They later disposed of the body under tree branches, leaves, and other brush.

According to the indictment, Carlos Portillo AKA “Pikachu,” and Roberto Abrego-Reyes, AKA “Splinter,” allegedly ordered the murder of Espantzay-Gonzales because he was perceived to be an enemy of the gang.

Cullal was arrested in Maryland on Oct. 4, 2017, by members of the Nassau County Police Department and the US Marshals.

Specifically, Cullal pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and second-degree conspiracy. He is scheduled to return to court on Tuesday, Aug. 10, where he is expected to receive a term of between 20 years to life in prison, with Smith recommending a sentence of 23 years to life.

Then cases against Portillo, Granados-Coreas, Ponce, and Abrego-Reyes are pending.

“A 19-year old man was mercilessly hacked to death with a machete by Antonio Cullal and a group of other MS-13 gang members because of their belief this young man was the gang’s enemy,” Smith said.

“They callously discarded Julio Cesar Espantzay-Gonzales’ body under branches and leaves. I am thankful to our law enforcement partners for apprehending the people responsible for this senseless gang murder.” 

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