BRONX MAN IS CONVICTED OF MURDER IN THE DEATH OF OFF DUTY NARCOTICS DETECTIVE

Bronx District Attorney Robert T. Johnson announced today that 29 year-old Luis Gonzalez a.k.a. Luis Gomez has been convicted of murder in the death of off duty narcotics detective Jaime Betancourt, 34, in March 2002.

Gonzalez, pled guilty to one count of Intentional Murder in the 2nd degree. Acting State Supreme Court Justice William Mogelscu set sentencing for Friday, January 23, 2003, in Part M30. Under the terms of the plea agreement, Gonzalez will be sentenced to a term of 15 years to life imprisonment. The People recommended a term of 20 years imprisonment.

Betancourt was stabbed in the chest and killed when he intervened in a dispute between his girlfriend and Gonzalez, the woman’s ex-boyfriend and father of her child at the woman’s apartment on March 31, 2002.

Gonzalez fled immediately after the homicide and eluded police for nine days before he was taken into custody in Miami, Florida.

Chief Trial Counsel Assistant District Attorney Daniel McCarthy and Assistant District Attorney Maria Rivero, prosecuted this case.