MS-13 Member Gets Life In Prison For Murder Of Nassau Teen

MASSAPEQUA, NY — An MS-13 gang member was sentenced to nine years to life in prison today for his role in the 2016 murder of a Uniondale teen in the Massapequa Park Preserve.

Samuel Ponce, aka Little Chickie, 20, of Hempstead, pleaded guilty on June 28 to second-degree murder. The maximum sentence he could have received was 15 years to life in prison because he was 15-years-old when he committed the crime.

“Bryan Lemus’ life was violently cut short when he was ambushed and murdered with machetes by Samuel Ponce and other members of MS-13,” said Acting Nassau District Attorney Joyce Smith. “NCDA continues its work to rid Nassau County of this ruthless gang violence and ensure that these dangerous individuals are taken off our streets. I thank our partners at the Nassau County Police Department, Drug Enforcement Administration, Homeland Security Investigations and FBI Long Island Gang Task Force for their assistance in this case.”

According to Smith, on Aug. 23, 2016, 18-year-old Bryan Steven Cho Lemus, who was a perceived enemy of the gang, was walking his dog on Arthur Street in Uniondale when he was lured to the Massapequa Preserve with promises of drugs and sex. Once there, Lemus was hacked to death with machetes by Ponce and other members of MS-13.

Lemus's body was found on May 24, 2019 in a shallow grave in the preserve by members of the Nassau County Police Department who were searching the area. Ponce was arrested on Sept. 17, 2019.

Multiple people have been charged in the murder of Lemus. The rest are awaiting trial.

“I want to thank the outstanding men and women of Nassau County law enforcement and our federal partners for the collaborative intelligence-led police work that led to the arrest and prosecution of this assailant," said Nassau County Executive Laura Curran. "This sentence proves that brutal criminals will face the full force of the law in Nassau County, and that violent gang members will be put away for a long time.”