SUFFOLK COUNTY, N.Y. – Seven alleged members and associates of the Huntington Criminal Locates Salvatrucha or “HCLS” clique of the MS-13 street gang have been charged with robbery, kidnapping, gang assault, and other related charges following a violent attack on a 15-year-old boy on January 6, 2024, announced Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney.
District Attorney Tierney emphasized his office’s dedication to investigating and prosecuting gang members and associates who commit violence in Suffolk County, stating that the allegations in the indictment are horrific and gang violence will not be tolerated in the area.
The incident, which took place at the Huntington Train Station, involved five of the seven co-defendants displaying a knife, surrounding the victim, stealing his money and property, and physically assaulting him. The victim was then forced into a car driven by one of the defendants, who drove him to the Pilgrim Psychiatric Center in Brentwood.
Upon arrival at the center, the defendants allegedly forced the victim to climb through a hole in the wall of an abandoned building, where they proceeded to assault him further. One of the defendants stabbed the victim in the neck, causing a laceration that required stitches, while another hit him on the head with a hard object, resulting in unconsciousness and a fractured skull.
After regaining consciousness, the victim managed to escape and was found by a passerby. He required surgery, including a craniotomy, to treat his injuries.
The defendants, including JOSUE ZEPEDA PADILLA, BRAYAN JIMENEZ AVILA, YEISON CHAVEZ CAMPOS, MAYCOLL RAMIREZ CERRATO, MARCOS SERPOS, and MAYBELLINE GARCIA CORNEJO, face multiple charges, including robbery, gang assault, assault, kidnapping, and attempted assault.
RAMIREZ CERRATO, CHAVEZ CAMPOS, SERPOS, GARCIA CORNEJO, and JIMENEZ AVILA have been arraigned before Supreme Court Justice Anthony S. Senft Jr., with bond amounts set during their pending cases. As of February 9, 2024, ZEPEDA PADILLA remains at large, and authorities urge anyone with information about his whereabouts to contact the Suffolk County Police Department.