New York MS-13’s ‘Little Devil’ convicted in ambush murder of 4 young men

CENTRAL ISLIP, N.Y. – An MS-13 gang affiliate generally known as “Diablita,” or “Little Satan,” was convicted on federal racketeering and homicide expenses precisely 5 years to the day after the grisly bloodbath of 4 younger males that prosecutors described as “a horrific frenzy of violence” in New York.

Leniz Escobar, now 22, and Keyli Gomez lured the victims to their deaths on April 11, 2017. 

The brutal ambush assault concerned machetes, knives, an axe, a chisel and golf equipment, in keeping with Breon Peace, the U.S. Legal professional for the Japanese District of New York. It killed Michael Lopez, Justin Llivicura, Jorge Tigre and Jefferson Villalobos within the woods close to kids’s sports activities fields in Central Islip, New York.

MS-13’S ‘LITTLE DEVIL’ TO STAND NY TRIAL IN BRUTAL 2017 SLAYINGS

“The defendant confirmed utter disregard for human life by main the victims right into a killing area, to their slaughter, to boost her stature along with her fellow cold-blooded murderers inside the MS-13 gang,” Peace mentioned Monday.

Though she was a juvenile on the time, U.S. District Choose Joseph Bianco accepted prosecutors’ request to attempt her as an grownup in June, 2018.

“The seriousness of the alleged offenses can’t be overstated,” Bianco wrote. “The defendant is charged with 4 premeditated and brutal murders carried out for the MS-13. The federal government alleges that she instigated the murders by displaying footage of among the victims flashing MS-13 indicators to MS-13 members, figuring out that their punishment could be violent deaths.”

Leniz Escobar, often known as “Diablita” or “Little Satan,” has been convicted in reference to a grotesque 2017 quadruple murder that solid a nationwide highlight on MS-13 violence.
(United States Legal professional’s Workplace for the Japanese District of New York)

A fifth sufferer, Elmer Alexander Arteaga-Ruiz, took off operating, jumped a fence and fled to security. He was in a position to assist investigators clear up the case.

“One of many victims was so disfigured he was solely identifiable by dental data,” Peace mentioned Monday. “In the present day, on the five-year anniversary of this tragic mass homicide, a federal jury delivered justice.”

The victims, who weren’t members of MS-13, have been killed after a few of them posted footage on-line of themselves “flashing MS-13 gang indicators,” in keeping with prosecutors. Escobar was accused of displaying these footage to the gang as a way to enhance her standing.

Gomez, who has already pleaded responsible to racketeering, testified towards Escobar and mentioned the 2 of them lured the victims out that evening and even drove with them to the park earlier than main them to “predetermined space” the place a bunch MS-13 members have been ready to encircle and bloodbath them after darkish. Greater than a dozen members and associates have been charged within the assault.

Escobar was convicted on quite a few federal expenses, together with homicide and racketeering. She faces as much as life in jail at her sentencing.

Her legal professional, Jesse Siegel, didn’t instantly reply to a request for remark.

The Related Press contributed to this report.