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Gang members convicted in assault at Laundromat

By Betsy Scheinbart

Two Queens gang members were convicted Aug. 30 of attacking a teenager with ice picks and a knife in a Jamaica Laundromat last April, the Queens district attorney said.

Members of the MS-13 gang, Carlos “Fly” Sosa, 22, of 90-14 185th St. in Jamaica and Rafael “Flaco” Maradiaga, 18, of 141 Metropolitan Ave. in Kew Gardens, were convicted of assault after a two-week jury trial before state Supreme Court Justice Jaime Rios, District Attorney Richard Brown said.

“According to intelligence gathered during the course of this and other investigations, MS-13 is a gang whose membership is largely composed of young men from various countries in Central America including El Salvador, Honduras and Guatemala,” Brown said.

“The gang has groups across the U.S., including California, the Midwest and the East Coast. They specialize in street robberies, burglaries and street fights with rival gangs,” the DA said.

The victim, Danny Carpio, 17, was seriously injured. Carpio was targeted because he had been involved in a fight with Sosa and Maradiaga a few weeks prior to the April 2000 assault, the DA said.

Sosa was also convicted of possession of a weapon and menacing, Brown said. Sosa and Maradiaga face up to seven years in prison when Rios imposes their sentences Sept. 11.

A third defendant pleaded guilty to attempted murder, assault and other crimes and was sentenced July 12 to 1 1/3 to four years in prison as a youthful offender.

The assault occurred April 25, 2000 inside the Super Kingdom Laundromat at 144-01 Hillside Ave. in Jamaica, where Carpio was watching TV inside the Laundromat while his girlfriend did the wash, Brown said.

At about 1:35 p.m., the three defendants entered the Laundromat and went to the back, where Carpio was sitting, Brown said.

The three men surrounded Carpio and started making MS-13 hand signals and statements, the DA said. One defendant pulled out a knife, while Sosa and Maradiaga pulled out ice picks, Brown said. Carpio punched the third defendant and the three began attacking Carpio with their weapons, the DA said.

Sosa left the Laundromat and returned with a bat, which he swung at Carpio before fleeing the scene, Brown said.

Carpio suffered multiple stab wounds to his hands, stomach, back and sides, Brown said. Sosa was arrested in possession of the bat and the other two defendants were later arrested, the DA said.

Reach reporter Betsy Scheinbart by e-mail at Timesledger@aol.com or call 229-0300 Ext. 138.