Yolani Mejia Carranza, 56, ordered the murder of Byron Martinez, 23, back in August 2022, the Suffolk County District Attorney’s office said.
Daniel Kersey, 35, carried out the killing after Aldo Esmizadeh, 70, recommended his services to Mejia Carranza, prosecutors said. Mejia Carranza and Kersey were charged with first-degree murder, while Esmizadeh was charged with conspiracy.
The trouble began after Martinez’s mother had dental work done by Mejia Carranza but came back with a mangled mouth, investigators said.
When the woman learned repairs would cost thousands of dollars, she demanded her money back from Mejia Carranza and claimed her son, Byron, had recorded Mejia Carranza’s illegal work and would go to the cops with video evidence if she didn’t provide a refund, according to authorities.
Mejia Carranza responded by reaching out to Esmizadeh and asking if he knew anyone who would “hurt” people, prosecutors said. Esmizadeh put her in touch with Kersey, who agreed in late July 2022 to threaten Martinez and his mother in exchange for money, according to the DA’s office.
Though Mejia Carranza and Esmizadeh surveilled the Martinez’s basement apartment in Huntington Station, they grew dissatisfied by Kersey’s lack of action, investigators said. Mejia Carranza demanded Kersey kill Martinez and his mother, claiming she would withhold payment until he carried out the murders, according to authorities.
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