Suffolk County DA Charges Seven Alleged MS-13 Members in Violent Assault Case

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 related charges following a violent attack on a 15-year-old boy on January 6, 2024, announced Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney.

According to the investigation, the victim was lured to the Huntington Train Station by a minor, where the alleged assailants stole property and money from the victim. The victim was then reportedly forced into a car and driven to the Pilgrim Psychiatric Center in Brentwood, where he was further assaulted, sustaining serious injuries that required surgery. The defendants are said to have shown extreme violence, with one even stabbing the victim in the neck.

The defendants, including JOSUE ZEPEDA PADILLA, BRAYAN JIMENEZ AVILA, and MAYCOLL RAMIREZ CERRATO, among others, were indicted on charges ranging from robbery to kidnapping. The minor involved in the incident was also indicted on several charges. All defendants were arraigned and ordered to be held on various amounts of cash or bond during the pendency of their cases.

As of February 9, 2024, one of the defendants, ZEPEDA PADILLA, remains at large. Anyone with information on his whereabouts is urged to contact the Suffolk County Police Department or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-220-TIPS.

This case is being prosecuted by the Violent Criminal Enterprises Bureau, with the investigative assistance of Detective Sean Walsh of the Suffolk County Police Department. It serves as an example of the commitment to investigating and prosecuting gang violence in Suffolk County.