Central Islip, NY - December 21, 2018 - Suffolk County District Attorney Timothy D. Sini today announced the sentencing of an MS-13 gang member for attempting to kidnap and murder a Brentwood teen in December 2017.
“This was an outstanding case where the Suffolk County Police Department literally prevented a murder at the hands of MS-13 gang members,” District Attorney Sini said. “Because of excellent police work and prosecution, not only are four gang members who conspired to commit murder now in prison, but a 16-year-old boy’s life was saved. This was a significant win for our community.”
Jorge Bermudez-Cedillo, 19, of Brentwood, was sentenced today by Suffolk County Acting Supreme Court Justice Fernando Camacho to seven years in prison followed by two and one-half years of post-release supervision.
Bermudez-Cedillo pleaded guilty on Nov. 13 to Attempted Kidnapping in the First Degree, a B felony.
On Dec. 7, 2017, Bermudez-Cedillo, along with three other individuals, attempted to kidnap a 16-year-old from Brentwood with the intent to kill him to advance their status within the MS-13 gang’s Brentwood Locos Salvatruchas (BLS) clique.
The Suffolk County Police Department had increased enforcement in Brentwood after receiving intelligence that MS-13 members had been driving around the area in a van and harassing other teenagers.
At approximately 2 p.m., plainclothes police officers who were in the area as part of the enforcement initiative witnessed the defendants attempting to kidnap the victim in a 1995 Mercury van near 1st Street and 5th Avenue in Brentwood. The defendants mistakenly believed the victim to be a member of a rival gang.
Police apprehended the defendants and found two knives, two bats, a lead pipe, a tarp and duct tape in the vehicle.
The other defendants are Miguel Rivera, 21, of Brentwood; Vidal Ortiz-Contreras, 19, of Brentwood; and Oscar Fuentes, 19, of Brentwood.
Rivera pleaded guilty on Aug. 28 to Conspiracy in the Second Degree, a B felony. He was sentenced on Oct. 26 to two to six years in prison.
Ortiz-Contreras pleaded guilty on Sept. 11 to Conspiracy in the Second Degree. He was sentenced on Dec. 6 to one and one-third to four years in prison.
Fuentes pleaded guilty on Aug. 28 to Conspiracy in the Second Degree. He was sentenced on Dec. 12 to two to six years in prison.
This case was prosecuted by the Enhanced Prosecution Bureau’s Gang Unit.