MS-13 Gang Member Sentenced to 45 Years for Violent Murder in Queens, Judge Criticizes Defense Attorney

A federal court in Brooklyn sentenced Juan Amaya-Ramirez to 45 years in prison on Tuesday, concluding a high-profile case involving the brutal murder of 17-year-old Andy Peralta in April 2018. The defendant’s conviction is tied to his aspiration to join the infamous Los Angeles-based street gang, MS-13, and his disturbing involvement in orchestrating Peralta’s death.

Amaya-Ramirez, now 27, was accused of collaborating with at least two accomplices who initially targeted Peralta due to past affiliations with a rival gang. The tragic events unfolded when Amaya-Ramirez’s girlfriend, Leyla Carranza, lured Peralta to Kissena Park in Queens under the pretense of a romantic meeting. Once there, he became the victim of a violent beating, during which he was choked, stabbed, and ultimately left lifeless in the mud.

During the sentencing hearing, U.S. District Judge LaShann DeArcy Hall was resolute in rejecting the defense team’s argument that Amaya-Ramirez was the “least culpable” actor in this heinous act. The judge noted that the defendant’s conduct was directly linked to the victim’s death, specifically emphasizing the brutality of the strangulation. An autopsy revealed that Peralta had died from manual strangulation, undermining the defense’s attempts to minimize Amaya-Ramirez’s culpability.

Federal prosecutors articulated the severity of the offense, stating that Amaya-Ramirez had taken pleasure in the act. Evidence indicated that he kept a photograph of Peralta’s deceased body which he shared with other gang members while boasting about his role in the murder. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan Siegel labeled the incident as a cold-blooded attack on an innocent individual, asserting there had been no gang orders or leadership involved—just a clear intent to kill.

In contrast, defense attorney Richard Palma argued for a reduced sentence, suggesting that Amaya-Ramirez acted under the influence of his accomplices, particularly Flores-Mejia. However, Judge Hall rebuffed these assertions, emphasizing the premeditated nature of the crime and the apparent thrill Amaya-Ramirez took from it.

The case has cast a spotlight on the violence associated with gang culture in urban America. Peralta, whose life was cut tragically short, had begun distancing himself from street gang affiliations, seeking a more stable path. His parents attended the proceedings, expressing deep anguish over their loss. Peralta’s mother, Rosa Jaramillo, articulated the profound pain of losing a child and the ripple effects of such violence within communities.

As Amaya-Ramirez awaits his lengthy sentence, the ramifications of this case continue to highlight the pervasive challenges of gang-related violence, casting a shadow over aspiring futures lost in tragic circumstances. The sentencing reflects a concerted effort by law enforcement and the judiciary to hold individuals accountable for their complicity in the cycle of violence that has marked the lives of too many young people in cities across America.

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