5 alleged MS-13 members charged in machete attacks in Hempstead, Uniondale

A Nassau County grand jury has indicted five men, described by prosecutors as members of a Hempstead clique of MS-13, on charges of attempted murder in attacks with machetes last year at a Hempstead soccer field and a Uniondale laundromat.

Prosecutors said the two attacks by members of MS-13’s Hempstead Locos Salvatruchas gang took place in October and December.

The first attack occurred on Oct. 20, where prosecutors said four members of the gang set upon six people, ranging in age from 20 to 51, with knives and machetes at 4:25 p.m. during a soccer game at Kennedy Memorial Park in Hempstead.

A grand jury charged Elias Serrano Bonilla, 21, of East Meadow, Edras Daniel Velazquez Giron, 19, and Kelvin Martinez, 19, both of Hempstead, and Pedro Martinez Velasquez, 18, with conspiracy, attempted murder, gang assault, assault and attempted assault during the attack.

Another defendant, Jeffrey Valladares Archaga, 20, of Hicksville, who prosecutors described as a getaway driver, was charged with felony conspiracy and misdemeanor criminal possession of a weapon.

They each pleaded not guilty during arraignments last week following the indictment and were remanded to jail without bail. Bonilla, Velasquez, Giron and Martinez could face up to 25 years in prison if convicted. Archaga could face between eight and 25 years in prison, prosecutors said.

"MS-13 has a long and violent history in New York, particularly on Long Island, where its members have terrorized communities for decades," Nassau County District Attorney Anne Donnelly said in a statement.

Joseph LoPiccolo, an attorney for Kelvin Martinez, said his client denied the charges and would challenge the source of the accusations in court.

"Mr. Martinez denies participating in any such "gang" activities and believes he was accused by persons who are attempting to minimize their own criminal charges, and potential sentences, by accusing others of the actions that have been attributed to alleged gang activity," LoPiccolo said in a statement.

Attorneys for the other four men could either not be reached for comment Monday or declined to comment.

Prosecutors said Bonilla was the leader of the Hempstead gang and was seen on surveillance video walking toward the victims playing soccer. Authorities said Velasquez, Martinez, and Giron were also seen jumping the fence and began to punch and kick the victims.

The video also showed Martinez pulling a knife from his pants and stabbing one person in the chest, prosecutors said. Giron was seen with a machete used to slash someone in the back, district attorney’s officials said.

During the attack, prosecutors said one person was stabbed in the shoulder and another person had to have his gallbladder removed after he was stabbed in the rib cage. The man also received stab wounds damaging his diaphragm and liver, prosecutors said.

The four men ran away after the attack and sped away in Archaga’s vehicle, according to prosecutors.

Authorities later served a search warrant of the car where investigators found a knife with a handle shaped like an eagle and the letters "MS" engraved in it, according to the district attorney’s office.

During a separate Dec. 18 attack, prosecutors said Bonilla, Velasquez and Martinez attacked two people with white pipes and a machete in the parking lot outside the Super Laundromat in Uniondale.

Prosecutors said they identified themselves as MS-13 members and threatened to kill the two victims. Authorities said the defendants were seen on surveillance video punching and beating a man with a long white pipe. Another man was stuck about eight times with a machete, by another defendant Edwin Patzan Piri, 18, and Kennet Contreras, 24.

They pleaded guilty to attempted murder charges earlier this year and are awaiting sentencing, according to court records. 

By John Asbury

john.asbury@newsday.comJohnAsbury

John Asbury is a breaking news and general assignment reporter. He has been with Newsday since 2014 and previously worked at The Press-Enterprise in Riverside, California.