MS-13 Gang Member Sentenced In Fatal Beating Of 14-Year-Old Girl

UPPER MARLBORO, MD -- Josue Fuentes-Ponce, a 17-year-old MS-13 gang member, received a life sentence in prison with all but 50 years suspended, for his role in the first-degree murder of Ariana Funes-Diaz, 14, according to a Prince George's County release.

Fuentes-Ponce was also charged with taking part and committing a murder as a member of a criminal gang and conspiracy to commit murder. He pleaded guilty to those counts on Oct. 30, 2019.

According to prosecutors, Fuentes-Ponce and three others lured Funes-Diaz into a tunnel in Riverdale, where she was beaten to death.

Joel Escobar, 18, a co-defendant of Fuentes-Ponce's, pleaded guilty on Nov. 25, 2019. He is scheduled to be sentenced on Feb. 26. The trial for another co-defendant, Edwin Rios, 19, is set to begin on April 13. The case of the remaining co-defendant, who is 14, was handled in juvenile court.

Once he is released from incarceration, Fuentes-Ponce will undergo 5 years of supervised probation.