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Date: 02-16-2018

Case Style:

United States of America v. Benito Valdez

Federal Courthouse - District of Columbia

Case Number: 1:91-mj-01002-AK

Judge: Judith Bartnoff

Court: United States District Court for the District of Columbia

Plaintiff's Attorney: Laura A. Bach and Lindsey Merikas

Defendant's Attorney: Not Available

Description: Washington, DC - Virginia Man Found Guilty of Murder and Other Charges for Triple Homicide in Northeast Washington in 1991

Shootings Took Place in Langdon Park Following Drug Dispute

Benito Valdez, 47, formerly of Arlington, Va., was found guilty by a jury today of multiple counts of first-degree murder while armed and other charges for killing three people in 1991 in Northeast Washington.

In addition to the murder charges, the jury found Valdez guilty of three counts of kidnapping while armed and one count of sodomy while armed. The verdict followed a trial in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia. Valdez will be sentenced by the Honorable Judith Bartnoff.

According to the government’s evidence, in the early morning hours of April 23, 1991, Curtis Pixley, Keith Simmons, and Samantha Gillard went to Langdon Park in the 1800 block of Franklin Street NE to purchase crack cocaine. Mr. Pixley, 29, and Mr. Simmons, 26, approached Valdez while Ms. Gilliard, 23, waited at a distance. The drug deal went bad very quickly when Valdez accused Mr. Pixley of stealing drugs from him. Valdez threatened Mr. Pixley that he was going to pay for the drugs one way or another. When Mr. Pixley could not pay with cash, Valdez raped Ms. Gillard at gunpoint. Then, according to the government’s evidence, Valdez forced all three to lie on the ground and shot each one execution-style.

Valdez was charged with the crimes in February 2016.

In announcing the verdicts, U.S. Attorney Liu and Chief Newsham commended the work of those who investigated the case from the Metropolitan Police Department’s Cold Case Unit as well as the U.S. Park Police. They also expressed appreciation for the work of those who handled the case at the U.S. Attorney’s Office, including Paralegal Specialists Stephanie Siegerist, Alesha Matthews, Meridith McGarrity, and Sharon Newman; Criminal Investigator Zachary McMenamin; Litigation Technology Specialist Leif Hickling, and Victim/Witness Advocate Diana Lim.

Finally, they commended the work of Assistant U.S. Attorneys Laura A. Bach and Lindsey Merikas, who prosecuted the case.

Outcome: Guilty

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