Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney announced the sentencing of Jose Martinez-Vazquez and Tiffany Diaz-Cabrera, both from Port Jefferson Station, for their roles in the fatal stabbing of Benjamin Flores-Mendez. Martinez-Vazquez, 25, pleaded guilty to Murder in the Second Degree for fatally stabbing Flores-Mendez. Diaz-Cabrera, 21, pleaded guilty to Manslaughter in the First Degree for acting as a lookout during the incident.
“The lengthy prison terms handed down to both defendants reflect the severity of their actions and our commitment to public safety,” said District Attorney Tierney. “This brutal attack on our greenway trail – a place meant for recreation and community gathering – shook our citizens to the core. With these sentences, we hope to restore a sense of security to our public spaces and deter future acts of violence.”
Court documents reveal that on June 17, 2021, Martinez-Vasquez and Diaz-Cabrera followed Flores-Mendez into the Setauket-Port Jefferson Station Greenway Trail entrance. Martinez-Vazquez admitted to repeatedly stabbing Flores-Mendez while Diaz-Cabrera acted as his lookout. Good Samaritans later found Flores-Mendez at the trail entrance.
The defendants were arrested by Suffolk County homicide detectives on March 5, 2023.
Martinez-Vazquez pleaded guilty on July 25, 2024, receiving a sentence of 20 years to life in prison on August 28, 2024. He was represented by John Halverson, Esq.
Diaz-Cabrera pleaded guilty on April 22, 2024. She was sentenced on October 7, 2024, to serve 15 years in prison with an additional five years of post-release supervision. Luigi Belcastro, Esq., represented her.
Assistant District Attorney Elena Tomaro from the Homicide Bureau and Assistant District Attorney Tara Laterza from the Child Abuse and Domestic Violence Bureau prosecuted this case. Detective James Hughes from Suffolk County Police Department’s Homicide Squad conducted the investigation.