DOUBLE LIFE SENTENCE PLUS 80-YEARS FOR MEMBERS OF “VATOS LOCOS” GANG

Two Teenagers Gunned Down in Apparent Case of ‘Mistaken Identity’

Atlanta- Two members of a Metro Atlanta gang known as the “Vatos Locos” or “Crazy Guys” will spend the rest of their lives behind bars for taking the lives of two innocent people and harming four others. Venda Suastegui, 25 and Filiberto Cuevas, 26, each pled guilty this morning to two counts of Murder, two counts of Felony Murder, four counts of Aggravated Assault and weapons charges for the drive-by shooting deaths of a teenage couple and aggravated assault on four others.

18-year old Policcaripio Luviano and his female passenger Blanco Badillo, 17, were gunned down while driving along Interstate 85 southbound near the Peachtree Street exit on November 8, 2008 (victim Badillo’s birthday). The incident began hours earlier in Dekalb County when members of the “Vatos Locos” gang got into a fight with a rival gang member named “Carlos” inside El Chapparral club on Buford Highway. Assuming “Carlos” was inside, the defendants followed victim Luviano’s car to a nearby Waffle House and then onto the interstate. As they drove alongside the vehicle, the defendants opened fire on Luviano’s car killing the young driver and the teenage girl instantly. The men then opened fire on a second vehicle, injuring another man who survived. Three other passengers escaped injury.

Defendants Suastegui and Cuevas were identified three months later following a tip to immigration authorities from a confidential informant. Each man confessed to the shooting upon arrest and admitted that they were trying to shoot the “Southsiders” and instead hit innocent victims who were not a part of the gang dispute.

Suastegui and Cuevas were sentenced to two concurrent life sentences plus 80-years by Superior Court Judge Wendy Shoob who presided over the case.

Senior Assistant District Attorney Eleanor Ross prosecuted the case with assistance from DA Investigator Vance Williams. Detective J.D. Stephens of the Atlanta Police Department led the initial investigation.

Media Contact: Yvette Brown, 404-224-0560/404-392-8867, yvette.brown@fultoncountyga.gov