Kevin Granados-Coreas and co-conspirators killed victim after luring him into ambush
Nassau County District Attorney Anne T. Donnelly announced that a Hempstead man was sentenced today to 23 years to life in prison for his role in the 2017 murder of a perceived gang enemy in the Massapequa Park Preserve.
Kevin Granados-Coreas, 23, a/k/a Lonely, pleaded guilty on April 14, before Judge Helene Gugerty to second-degree murder (an A-I felony) and second-degree conspiracy (a B felony). He was sentenced to 23 years to life in prison.
“Julio Cesar Espantzay-Gonzales was but another tragic victim of a vicious cycle of gang violence perpetuated by MS-13,” Donnelly said. “The defendant told fellow MS-13 members that the victim was their ‘enemy.’ He helped to lure the young man into the preserve, and once inside, he wielded a machete and hacked Espantzay-Gonzales to death. NCDA continues to weaken this criminal organization in our County with each conviction and those who take part in these senseless executions are paying for their crimes.”
According to the investigation, 19-year-old Espantzay-Gonzales was reported missing on January 31, 2017. On March 23, 2017, his body was found by a dogwalker in the Massapequa Park Preserve. The victim was lured to the woods on January 28, 2017, by Kevin Granados-Coreas and others with promises of sex and marijuana.
Once in the preserve Granados-Coreas, Antonio Cullal a/k/a Duke, Raul Ponce a/k/a Shadow, and Gerson Stanley Juarez a/k/a Angel Black, 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 a/k/a/ Pikachu and Roberto Abrego-Reyes, a/k/a Splinter, allegedly ordered the murder of Espantzay-Gonzales because he was perceived to be an enemy of the gang.
The defendant was arrested in Hempstead by members of the Nassau County Police Department’s Homicide Squad on August 15, 2017.
Cullal was previously sentenced to 20 years to life, while Ponce was sentenced to 32 years to life.
The cases against Portillo and Abrego-Reyes are pending.
Homicide Bureau Chief Jared Rosentblatt and Deputy Chief Katie Zizza of the Vehicular Crimes Bureau prosecuted the case. The defendant is represented by Martin Goldberg, Esq.
The charges against the other defendants are merely accusations and the defendants are presumed innocent until and unless found guilty.
—Submitted by the Office of the Nassau County District Attorney
