When Manuel Lugo was convicted, Carlos Ventura and Marilyn Colons family were convinced justice was done.

These families trusted the evidence at trial, as presented by the prosecuting attorney, Dawn Florio.  What these families did not know then, was that the case on trial against Manuel Lugo and Wilfredo Roman was a complete fabrication.  What these families did not know then was that they were being lied to by the prosecuting attorney.  These families were unaware of the fact that Roman did not kill Ventura and Colon under orders from Manuel lugo as the prosecution alleged during trial.  These families did not know then that lugo did not give anyone orders for Ventura to be killed.  When Lugo was convicted, these families thought that justice was served. Little did they know then, Ulysses “Chino” Mena, the person who confessed to killing Ventura and Colon (as records show) was given a free pass by the prosecution.  Lenin “Lenny” Sepulveda and Mena (as records show) were informants at the time that they rendered their admissions.

These families did not see justice materialize as they would have had, had the culprits responsible for the murders of Ventura and Colon been brought to justice.  These families were lied to and should demand that the case be reopened and that the individuals responsible for the death of Ventura and Colon be brought to justice.

The Ventura and Colon families should demand an explanation as to the reason why Mena, the confessed shooter, was never prosecuted (as records show) and will soon be released back into the same community where he admitted to viciously murdering Ventura and Colon.  Mena is scheduled to appear before the  parole board any given day.  In demanding justice, the Ventura and Colon families will get the satisfaction of bringing those who are really responsible for the deaths of their loved ones to face the punishment that they deserve.  It will also enable Lugo to have a legitimate chance to demonstrate his innocence before a jury that will be privy to the truth and  not just what the prosecution wants them to hear.

Lugo is innocent and the evidence in this case clearly demonstrates that Lugo was railroaded from the very start of the prosecution against him.  Unless Manuel Lugo is given the fair trial that he has been denied, a fair trial where the truth will be brought to light, those responsible will never be held accountable for the deaths of Colon and Ventura.  It is extremely sad that Ventura and Colon, two innocent human beings, lost their lives for no reason whatsoever and that the person who killed them got a slap on the wrist by the prosecution and has not been brought to justice.  It is also extremely sad that Lugo is incarcerated for a crime that he did not commit.

The District Attorneys Office will try convincing the Ventura and Colon families that justice was served by convicting Lugo.  Sepulveda still says that he ordered the murders at Lugos behest.  But whatever happened to the well tailored story presented at trial which Angel Otero fabricated and the prosecution did not correct?  Wasn’t Otero telling the truth, according to the prosecution, when he testified that he heard Lugo order Roman to kill Ventura?  Why should we now believe Sepulveda when he alleges that he ordered Mena to kill Ventura at Lugos behest?  We not only want justice for Manuel Lugo who we know is innocent, we also want justice for the victims and their families.

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I have spent the past 27 years in prison for a crime I did not commit or witness.

Dear Reader:

I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for your apparent interest in our quest for justice. As you should have by now learned, I have been incarcerated since February 19, 1991  for the senseless deaths of Carlos Ventura and Marilyn Colon, a heinous crime in which I have no involvement whatsoever. Thanks to God, my family and those who believe in my innocence, I have managed to find strength to pull through this painful ordeal determined as ever to prove my innocence.

Contrary to what Dawn Florio (the prosecuting attorney at my trial) made the jury believe and what the Bronx District Attorney’s Office wants you to believe, I am not responsible for the deaths of Ventura and Colon. I did not set up the death of Ventura. I did not order or ask anyone to kill Ventura. I had no knowledge that Ventura and Colon would be killed and I did not witness the shooting.

After my conviction, overwhelming evidence that was withheld by Florio during my trial surfaced. This evidence pointed to Lenin Sepulveda as the only individual with a motive to want Ventura dead. It also pointed  out that Lenin Sepulveda and Ulysses Mena as the only individuals responsible for the deaths of Ventura and Colon. The evidence includes an admission made to the police by Sepulveda that he ordered Mena to kill Ventura and an admission made by Mena that he killed Ventura and Colon.

I admitted to the police that Ventura and I had an argument and that the argument ended peacefully and we went our separate ways. However, my argument with Ventura does not make me responsible for the deaths of Ventura and Colon. I have maintained my innocence from the moment of my arrest because I am innocent of this heinous crime.

When I was convicted to life in prison, the Ventura and Colon families and the people of the State of New York were led to believe that justice was served. However, it is evident that justice was not served then (by sending me away to prison for this crime) nor is justice being served today by my continued wrongful incarceration. All I want is a fair day in court where all the evidence in connection with the Ventura and Colon deaths, can be fairly evaluated , thus allowing the truth to surface and justice to prevail. I was convicted based on the lie of Angel Otero (the prosecutions only eyewitness) and my continued incarceration is based on that lie. Angel Otero’s lie has been proven to be a lie by overwhelming independent evidence.  This evidence includes Angel Otero’s own admission that his testimony at my trial was fabricated  with the complicity of Florio. While I am still incarcerated for the deaths of Ventura and Colon, the self admitted murderers and violent criminals ( Sepulveda and Mena) have not been held fully accountable for this heinous crime.

Please, join our efforts to bring this travesty of justice to an end and uncover the truth which will vindicate me and allow Ventura and Colon to finally rest in peace. Until the truth is uncovered, justice cannot be served nor will Ventura and Colon be able to rest in peace knowing that the individuals responsible for their deaths have not been held accountable and that an innocent man is being punished for their deaths.

While I have expressed sincere sadness to the Ventura and Colon families for their loss, I cannot say that I am sorry for a heinous crime in which I played no role whatsoever, a heinous crime that I am not responsible for. I pray that the Ventura and Colon families and anyone who believes in justice, find interest in uncovering the truth about what really happened the night Ventura and Colon were killed and demand that those responsible for this heinous crime be held accountable.

Thank you for your interest in making sure that justice prevails. May God bless you always.’

Sincerely,

Manuel Lugo

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