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Jury finds MS-13 associate guilty on all counts in quadruple murder trial

Leniz Escobar, also known as "Diablita," lured four teens and a 20-year-old man into a Central Islip Park where they were attacked by members of MS-13.

News 12 Staff

Apr 11, 2022, 9:55 AM

Updated 984 days ago

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A jury has found the woman on trial for luring multiple men to be killed by MS-13 guilty on all counts.
Leniz Escobar, also known as "Diablita," lured four teens and a 20-year-old man into a Central Islip Park where they were attacked by members of MS-13.
Justin Llivicura, Michael Lopez, Jorge Tigre and Jefferson Villalobos were killed in the attack. The fifth victim escaped and testified during the trial.
The victims were thought to have disrespected the MS-13 gang through social media posts.
The prosecution argued that Escobar was an associate of the gang looking to earn trust and respect.
"Those five men in the prime of their lives had no idea that Escobar was leading them to their death, into a killing field where MS-13 gang members lay and wait armed with machetes, axes, knives, tree limbs and a chisel," says U.S. attorney Breon Peace.
The defense said Escobar was not in the gang and did not help plan the murders.
Escobar now faces life in prison. She was 17 years old at the time of the attack.
Escobar's attorney, Jesse Siegel, said he is disappointed in the verdict and his team is now focusing on her sentencing.
"Leniz is a 22-year-old young woman who has had an extraordinarily difficult life, and so we will make sure Judge Bianco has all the information he needs to meet an appropriate and fair sentence," Siegel said. "Then following that we will consider if there are any issues to bring up on appeal."
Siegel said Escobar could have faced the death sentence, but because she was a juvenile at the time, she faces life in prison.
Escobar will be sentenced on Sept. 14.
Over a dozen MS-13 members and associates have been charged in the case.
The guilty verdict comes five years to the day of the Central Islip killings.