Three men from Huntington Station were indicted for their alleged roles in the August 2022 murder of another Huntington Station man. One of the suspects, an unlicensed dentist, was indicted for conspiracy charges for his alleged role in facilitating the murder-for-hire.
According to the investigation, Byron Martinez’s mother received dental treatment from Yolani Mejia Carranza in 2022, who had allegedly been practicing dentistry in Huntington Station without a license. Following the procedure, the victim’s mother developed serious complications and learned it would cost thousands of dollars to correct the dental work. Martinez’s mother demanded reimbursement from Mejia Carranza for the money she paid and informed her that her son had recorded Mejia Carranza allegedly performing the procedure, and that they would report her unlicensed practice to law enforcement if she refused to reimburse her.
Mejia Carranza allegedly contacted Aldo Esmizadeh to inquire whether he knew anyone who would “hurt” people, and Esmizadeh allegedly put her in contact with Daniel Kersey. In late July 2022, Kersey allegedly agreed to threaten and hurt both the victim and his mother in exchange for payment. Mejia Carranza and Esmizadeh allegedly surveilled the basement apartment in Huntington Station where the victim and his mother lived and shared the location with Kersey.
After a period of time, Mejia Carranza allegedly became dissatisfied that Kersey had not hurt the victim and his mother as agreed. She allegedly demanded that both be killed and refused to pay Kersey until the murders were carried out.
On August 2, 2022, at approximately 1:18 a.m., Suffolk County Police responded to a 911 call for shots fired at the victim’s residence. They discovered Martinez lying in the entrance with a gunshot wound to his upper back, and he was pronounced dead. Police recovered shell casings from the scene, and a black drawstring bag containing a cartridge near the scene.
An autopsy determined that Martinez’ cause of death was a gunshot wound to the torso.
On April 23, 2026, Mejia Carranza, 56, was arraigned on the indictment before Acting Supreme Court Justice Anthony S. Senft, Jr. for the following charges:
- two counts of Murder in the First Degree, Class A felonies
- one count of Murder in the Second Degree, a Class A felony
- one count of Conspiracy in the Second Degree, a Class B felony
- one count of Conspiracy in the Fourth Degree, a Class E felony
- one count of Intimidating a Victim or Witness in the Third Degree, a Class E felony
- one count of Tampering with Physical Evidence, a Class E felony
- one count of Unauthorized Practice of Dentistry, a Class E felony
Senft ordered Mejia Carranza be remanded during the pendency of the case. Mejia Carranza is due back in court on May 20, 2026, and faces up to life in prison without the possibility of parole if convicted of the top count.
In a separate case, Mejia Carranza is currently charged with three counts of Unauthorized Practice of a Profession for having performed dental work on three separate individuals between the dates of November 1, 2024, and March 13, 2025, without possessing a license to practice dentistry in the State of New York. Mejia Carranza faces a maximum sentence of 1⅓ to four years in prison on each count if convicted.
Kersey, 35, is scheduled to be arraigned on the indictment on April 24, 2026, before Senft for the following charges:
- two counts of Murder in the First Degree, Class A felonies
- one count of Murder in the Second Degree, a Class A felony
- one count of Conspiracy in the Second Degree, a Class B felony
- one count of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree, a Class C felony
- one count of Conspiracy in the Fourth Degree, a Class E felony
- one count of Intimidating a Victim or Witness in the Third Degree, a Class E felony
- one count of Tampering with Physical Evidence, a Class E felony
Senft ordered Kersey remanded for the pendency of the case. Kersey is due back in court on June 3, 2026, and faces up to life in prison without the possibility of parole if convicted of the top count.
Kersey is also charged in a separate five-count indictment with three separate counts of Sex Trafficking, one count of Promoting Prostitution in the Third Degree and one count of Promoting Prostitution in the Fourth Degree for his alleged conduct occurring between the spring and fall of 2022. Kersey allegedly used a victim’s drug addiction to control and induce that person to engage in sexual acts for Kersey’s profit. Kersey allegedly monitored the victim’s movements and threatened the victim with physical violence if she did not comply with his demands. He faces a maximum sentence of 25 years in prison if convicted on the top count.
On April 23, 2026, Esmizadeh, 70, was arraigned on the indictment before Justice Senft for Conspiracy in the Second Degree, a Class B felony, and Conspiracy in the Fourth Degree, a Class E felony.
Senft ordered Esmizadeh held on $100,000 cash, $200,000 bond or $1,000,000 partially secured bond during the pendency of the case. Esmizadeh is due back in court on May 11, 2026, and faces up to 25 years in prison if convicted of the top count.
“Byron Martinez was fatally shot outside his home as part of an alleged contract killing orchestrated to protect an illegal, unlicensed dental practice,” said Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney. “This indictment reflects my office’s commitment to pursuing justice for Mr. Martinez and his family.”