Freeport Man Gets 18 Years to Life for Stabbing Man to Death on Main St. in Hempstead

Portillo pleaded guilty to murder last month

MINEOLA, NY - Nassau County District Attorney Kathleen Rice announced today that a Freeport man has been sentenced to 18 years to life in prison by a Nassau County judge for the stabbing death of a man who was trying to help his friend from being attacked by the defendant and his friends.

Jose Portillo, 21, of Freeport, pleaded guilty on October 26 to Murder in the Second Degree.

Rice said in the early morning hours of September 14, 2008, the victim, Eber Armando Marin Morales, left a restaurant on Main Street in Hempstead to try to assist a friend who was being attacked by a group of five men. Marin Morales was stabbed multiple times by Portillo during the attack and died shortly after.

Five other men were also charged in the attack. They are:

• Juan Cardona, 20, of Hempstead. He pleaded guilty to Attempted Gang Assault and Assault in the Second Degree. He has been sentenced to two years in prison.
• Josue Gallegos, 22, of Hempstead. He pleaded guilty to Attempted Gang Assault and has been sentenced to time served.
• Calvin Horton, 25, of Hempstead. He pleaded guilty to Attempted Gang Assault and is awaiting sentencing.
• David Sosa, 26, of Roosevelt. He pleaded guilty to Attempted Gang Assault and is awaiting sentencing.

“This was a brutal, cold-blooded attack on an innocent man who was only trying to help his friend,” Rice said. “I will do everything in my power to ensure that this defendant spends the rest of his life in prison.”

Assistant District Attorneys Michael Walsh and Anna Acquafredda of the Major Offense Bureau are handling the case for the District Attorney's Office. Portillo is represented by Martin Geduldig, Esq.