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Akmal Alvaranga, 34, was convicted of murder, felony murder, kidnapping, robbery, possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, and unlawful possession of a handgun on Thursday, June 16 following a three-week trial, Mercer County Prosecutor Angelo J. Onofri said.
Officers responding to a report of an unconscious man near the canal at Sixth Avenue and Assunpink Boulevard in Hamilton found the victim, Danny Diaz-Delgado, face down and unresponsive with his hands tied behind his back and tape around his face, suffering from several gunshot wounds to the torso, head, and leg around 2 p.m. on Saturday, March 24, 2018.
Evidence presented during the trial found that Alvaranga and his co-defendant, Rufus Thompson, had lured Diaz-Delgado to an alley in Trenton before kidnapping him at gunpoint, binding and gagging him, and holding him for hours in a garage, Onofri said.
The pair then drove the victim to Hamilton and shot him nine times in the back.
Additional evidence showed that the victim followed Alvaranga and Thompson to the alley with the intent of buying a PlayStation4 for his younger brother.
Thompson previously pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 45 years in prison, while Alvaranga will be sentenced on Thursday, Sept. 1.
Alvaranga faces life in prison for the murder conviction with a consecutive 15- to 30-year sentence for the kidnapping charge.
“The state is grateful that the jury was able to review the overwhelming evidence in this case and come to a swift and just verdict,” said Mercer County Assistant Prosecutor Rachel Cook, who represented the state.
“By all accounts, Danny was a remarkable person who was a great friend, loving brother, and devoted son. Tragically, Danny's young life was cut short after crossing paths with the defendant. While we can never get Danny back, it is our hope that his loved ones can find some comfort in today's guilty verdict.”
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