MS-13 Associate Sentenced 45 Years for Queens Teen Murder

Juan Amaya-Ramirez, also known as 'Cadaver,' an associate of the MS-13 gang, was sentenced to 45 years in federal prison for the brutal 2018 murder of 17-year-old Andy Peralta in Queens, New York. The victim was mistakenly targeted due to a misinterpreted gang affiliation, and Amaya-Ramirez used his then-girlfriend to lure Peralta to Kissena Park where he was beaten, strangled, and stabbed by Amaya-Ramirez and co-defendants. During sentencing, Judge LaShann DeArcy Hall rejected defense claims minimizing Amaya-Ramirez's role, emphasizing that Peralta died from strangulation by Amaya-Ramirez himself. The defendant had taken a photo over the victim's body showing MS-13 gang signs and often bragged about the murder to gain entry into the gang. Federal prosecutors highlighted the senselessness and brutality of the crime, noting there was no directive from gang leadership, and called for a severe sentence, which the court imposed. Peralta’s family attended the sentencing, expressing their grief and desire for justice.