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Nassau County District Attorney Madeline Singas announced that four alleged gang members have been indicted for their roles in the machete murder of Bryan Steven Cho Lemus.
Christian Rodriguez, 22, of Hempstead, David Maldonado, 20, of Uniondale, Raul Ponce, 21, of Hempstead, and Gerson Stanley Juarez, 23, of Hempstead, were all charged with second-degree murder and multiple counts of conspiracy.
On Aug. 23, 2016, Lemus, a perceived enemy of MS-13, was walking his dog on Arthur Street in Uniondale when he was lured into the Massapequa Preserve under the promise of a party with drugs and sex, Singas said. While inside the park, he was allegedly killed by the four men with machetes.
Detectives found Lemus’ body on May 24 last year, and Lemus’ remains were identified on June 3.
Ponce and Juarez had previously been charged with murder in an earlier indictment. Ponce’s brother, Samuel Ponce, 18, also known as Little Chickie, of Hempstead, was previously indicted for the murder. He faces a potential term of 15 years to life in prison.
Each of the four suspects has been remanded to jail and scheduled to appear in court next month. If convicted, all four face 50 years to life in prison.
“An 18-year old was simply walking his dog when he was invited to the park to smoke marijuana, but what he did not know is that members of MS-13 perceived him to be an enemy of the gang,” Singas said. “When Bryan Lemus arrived, he was lured into the park by people he believed to be his friends and violently hacked with machetes by multiple MS-13 members.”
Singas noted the investigation into the homicide is ongoing. Check Daily Voice for updates.
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