A Washington Heights home invasion turned fatal in 2006, and it took nearly two decades for justice to be served.
Edwin Cortorreal, a 36-year-old from the Dominican Republic, was found guilty of all three counts at trial, including conspiracy to commit racketeering, murder in aid of racketeering, and the use of a firearm resulting in death.
The verdict followed a five-day trial before U.S. District Judge Valerie E. Caproni.
Cortorreal was accused of shooting Kelly Diaz in the head during a home invasion robbery in 2006. Diaz’s wife was present during the crime and was thrown to the ground.
‘In 2006, Edwin Cortorreal conducted a terrifying, gunpoint home invasion robbery in Washington Heights, during which he shot Kelly Diaz in the head, killing him in front of his wife,’ said U.S. Attorney Damian Williams.
Cortorreal faces a mandatory sentence of life in prison for the murder charge. He is scheduled to be sentenced on September 20, 2023.
U.S. Attorney Damian Williams thanked the New York Healthcare Fraud Unit of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the New York City Police Department, and NYPD Task Force Officers assigned to the United States Attorney’s Office for their work on the investigation.
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Key Facts
- State: New York
- Category: Violent Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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