Gang Member Sentenced for Involvement in Fatal Robbery, Stabbing of Man in Bed-Stuy

BED-STUY – Acting Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez announced today that a 25-year-old Prospect Park South resident, Celestino Martinez, was sentenced to twenty years in prison after pleading guilty to manslaughter for his role in an attack that killed a 23-year old man and injured his brother.

Four other gang members from the Ninos Malos who participated in the attack were charged with robbery and murder earlier this year and sentenced to 25 years to life in jail.

Just before 2:00 am on Sept 7, 2014, the defendants approached and demanded money from the victims on Myrtle Ave, between Marcy and Tompkins Avenues, in Bed-Stuy. According to testimony, when Juan Carlos Luna-Juarez, 23, and his 27-year old brother did not comply, the defendants repeatedly punched, kicked and stabbed them.

Juan Juarez was stabbed approximately 10 times and died of a puncture wound to the heart, according to Gonzalez’s statement. Juarez’s brother was stabbed in the attack, but survived.

The gang members were arrested shortly after the attack, near the scene of the crime—two had blood on their clothes and one was carrying a knife. Two more knives were found at the scene.

Four co-defendants, Carmello Bello, 28, and Miguel Bello, 34, of Bed-Stuy, Javier Ortiz, 35, and Martin Carillo, 36 of Sunset Park, Brooklyn were convicted of second-degree murder and first-degree robbery earlier this year.

Martinez plead guilty to first-degree manslaughter August 16, 2017. His sentence of 20 years also includes 5 years post-release supervision.

“Today’s sentencing brings to justice the final defendant in this harrowing case… We have now held all five defendants who participated in the robbery accountable and ensured they will spend many years in prison for their actions,” said Acting District Attorney Eric Gonzalez.