A 17-year-old MS-13 gang member will serve 50 years in prison for his involvement in the murder of a 14-year-old girl in Maryland last April.
Josue Fuentes-Ponce pleaded guilty on Oct. 30 to charges of first-degree murder, participating in the crime as part of a criminal gang, and conspiracy to commit murder, according to NBC Washington.
Prosecutors said gang members lured Ariana Funes-Diaz into a tunnel in Riverdale, Md., where they beat her to death with a machete and baseball bat on April 18, the outlet reported.
“These individuals had demonstrated violent criminal behavior before, and because they were released in spite of the lawful detainer, they were afforded an opportunity to take a life.” ICE Baltimore Field Office Director Diane Witte previously said in the statement, according to Fox News.
Investigators say Fuentes-Ponce and three other gang members attack the victim to prevent her from informing police about a robbery they had taken part in a day prior.
World War II-Era Bomb Found at One of Country’s Busiest Ports, Marines Respond
Teacher Arrested After She Allegedly Added Student on Snapchat, Called Him from Her Shower, and Tried to Meet Up
Trump mass layoffs show he isn’t bluffing on shutdown threats
Dems fundraise off government shutdown as Hakeem Jeffries urges supporters to ‘keep the faith’
Republican lawmakers launch investigation into California fire charity funds
Democrats under fire for standing by Virginia AG hopeful who joked about shooting GOP rival
UN makes a mockery of human rights as China, Iran score gig on wayward committee
US judge vows to rule ‘soon’ on Abrego Garcia’s fate after marathon hearing
Trump declared in ‘excellent overall health’ by doctor after Walter Reed visit
‘American Psycho’ Author Savages ‘One Battle After Another’ as a Bad Movie Liberals are Trying to Make a ‘Masterpiece’
War Department launches new counter-narcotics task force under Trump directive to crush cartels
Trump administration dials up heat on Democrats as government shutdown set to enter third week
Scott Jennings Uses Letitia James’ Own Words Against Her: ‘I Don’t Think the American People Are Going to Have Too Much Sympathy’
Erika Kirk addresses grief in heartfelt social media post one month after husband’s assassination
Italy Considering New Law to Fight Radical Islam That Includes Burqa Ban
Fuentes-Ponce reportedly used a machete during the attack that was so violent, police needed to use a tattoo on her right hand to identify her body, according to NBC Washington.
Her family reported her missing before she was found floating in a creek last May — nearly a month after she was killed — the outlet said.
Co-defendant Joel Escobar pleaded guilty in November and is scheduled to be sentenced on February 26. A separate trial is scheduled for co-defendant Edwin Rios, 19 in April. The attorney for Feuntes-Ponce asked for leniency, according to the Washington Post, and said at the time of the incident, he had a cognitive level of a 9-year-old.
The charges against the final member, a 14-year-old girl, were handled in juvenile court, the outlet said.
Story cited here.
