Trial set to begin in Fall River Superior Court concerning murder of New Bedford man in Dartmouth

The trial is set to begin Monday in Fall River Superior Court concerning the murder of a New Bedford man.

According to the Massachusetts Department of Justice, Franklin Antonio Amaya Paredes, a/k/a “Tony,” of New Bedford allegedly murdered a 27-year-old in July 2020 near Horseneck Road in Dartmouth. Specifically, it is alleged that Amaya Paredes lured Jose Cortez Cornejo of New Bedford to a family party, after which Amaya Paredes drove Cornejo to the murder scene where he shot and killed him.

Surveillance video and location information allegedly showed that Amaya Parades and Cornejo entered a Honda Pilot minivan that was tracked to the scene of the murder at the time gunfire was heard. According to court filings, Cornejo was found lying face down with multiple gunshot wounds. Several 9-millimeter shell casings were recovered near his body.

In the days following the 2020 murder, Amaya Parades was charged by state authorities with murder. During the investigation, Amaya Parades was allegedly identified as a member of MS-13 and determined that he had allegedly murdered Cornejo in order to gain influence and improve his position in MS-13. The investigation also allegedly revealed that Amaya Parades conspired to murder a witness following Amaya Parades’ arrest on state murder charges. On Sept. 11, 2024, Amaya Parades was indicted by a federal grand jury in connection with the 2020 murder and his alleged conspiring to murder a witness.

The trial is expected to continue into the middle of February.