Man Found Guilty Of First-Degree Felony Murder, Other Charges In Brutal Slaying Of Restaurant Owner-Victim Was Stabbed Repeatedly In November 2010 Robbery-

     WASHINGTON - Alexander Gomez-Enamorado, 23, was found guilty by a jury today of  conspiracy, first-degree felony-murder, tampering with evidence, obstruction of justice, and related charges for the murder of a restaurant owner, U.S. Attorney Ronald C. Machen Jr. announced.

     The verdict followed a trial in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia. Gomez-Enamorado, who lived in various locations in the Washington, D.C. area, is originally from Honduras. He is facing more than 100 years in prison, and is scheduled to be sentenced by the Honorable Russell F. Canan on Nov. 8, 2013 – exactly three years to the day after the murder.

     At trial, the evidence established that in early November, 2010, Gomez-Enamorado recruited an associate to rob restaurant owner Miguel Ventura, 54, at knifepoint.  Once inside Mr. Ventura’s establishment, Izalco Restaurant, in the 1200 block of 11th Street NW, Gomez-Enamorado and his partner attempted to rob Mr. Ventura. 

     Mr. Ventura fought back, and was brutally attacked, suffering ten stab wounds, 30 cutting wounds, and repeated blunt force trauma to his head and face, breaking his nose and cheekbones.  Gomez-Enamorado and his partner fled, and Gomez-Enamorado disposed of the murder weapon.  The victim’s daughter, Ofelia Ventura, discovered her father’s body at the restaurant later that day.  Ms. Ventura testified that her father was so badly beaten and disfigured that she could not even recognize him when she saw him dead on the floor of his restaurant. 

     In the days and months after the murder, Gomez-Enamorado falsely reported to the police that he was merely a witness to the murder of Mr. Ventura.  He even fraudulently received assistance from the Crime Victim’s Compensation Program, which is administered by the Superior Court to assist victims of violent crime. 

     Thanks to the persistence and vigorous work of the Metropolitan Police Department, with assistance from the FBI, the defendant’s lies unraveled and he ultimately was arrested in May 2012. 

     After a two-week trial, the jury deliberated for less than one day before returning guilty verdicts on the following charges:  conspiracy to commit armed robbery, armed robbery, second-degree burglary, first-degree felony murder, tampering with evidence and obstruction of justice.

     In announcing the verdict, U.S. Attorney Machen recognized the outstanding efforts of the detectives, evidence technicians, and DNA Analyst who investigated the case from the Metropolitan Police Department, as well as the Special Agent from the FBI who worked on the matter.  He also commended the work of Assistant U.S. Attorneys Magdalena Acevedo and Glenn Kirschner, who tried the case, as well as the outstanding efforts of Paralegal Specialist Meridith McGarrity and Victim/Witness Advocate Christina Principe.