CENTRAL ISLIP, N.Y. — Leniz Escobar, also known as “Diablita,” was sentenced Wednesday to 50 years in federal prison for her role in the brutal murders of four young men by MS-13 gang members in a Central Islip park in 2017. Escobar, 22, was convicted of racketeering, including multiple murder charges, after luring five victims into a deadly ambush, four of whom were hacked to death with machetes and other weapons.
The U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, Breon Peace, announced the sentencing, emphasizing the severity of Escobar’s actions. “The defendant demonstrated her allegiance to the MS-13 gang by luring four young men to their slaughter,” Peace said. “Today’s significant sentence reflects not only the seriousness of her conduct but also the consequences of her actions.”
On April 11, 2017, Escobar, along with co-conspirator Keyli Gomez, led the victims to a wooded area in Central Islip where they were surrounded by MS-13 members. The gang, believing the victims were affiliated with a rival group, attacked and killed Justin Llivicura, Michael Lopez, Jorge Tigre, and Jefferson Villalobos. One of the five young men managed to escape.
Escobar was later recorded bragging about her involvement in the attack. FBI Assistant Director in Charge James E. Dennehy described her behavior as “inhumane” and said her actions prioritized gang status over human life. “May today’s sentencing provide some justice to the victims’ families,” Dennehy said.
The case is part of a broader federal effort to combat MS-13, a violent transnational gang operating throughout the U.S. Several other MS-13 members involved in the murders have also been convicted and sentenced, with more awaiting sentencing.
