Already serving a century in federal prison for a series of armed robberies, a former Long Island resident was convicted Monday of murdering his girlfriend’s former beau at a Jamaica hotel six years ago.
Max Cagan, 52, fatally shot Edwin Vega Quinones on June 5, 2010, at the Par Central Motor Inn on Parsons Boulevard in Jamaica. Quinones had been lured to the motel by his former girlfriend, Arlene Molina, who was previously convicted of helping Cagan plot the murder.
Cagan was convicted in 2012 on federal charges committing a series of seven armed robberies and shooting a police officer in New Jersey. He was sentenced to serve more than 100 years behind bars and now faces an additional 25 years to life in New York State prison for Quinones’ murder, according to Queens District Attorney Richard A. Brown. The sentences would run concurrently.
“[Cagan and Molina] cold bloodily [sic] set up the victim by luring him to a Queens motel and then shooting him in the face, killing him,” Brown said in a statement on Oct. 24. “This act of violence clearly demonstrates that [Cagan] is a danger to society and warrants a lengthy prison sentence in order to protect all law-abiding people.”
According to trial testimony, Molina and Cagan plotted to ambush Quinones at the Par Central Motor Inn on June 5, 2010, to avenge Quinones previously assaulting Molina.
When Quinones arrived at the motel, Molina allowed him into the room. Once inside, Cagan emerged and shot Quinones in the face with a loaded 9mm handgun. After the shooting, Cagan and Molina fled to New Jersey; they were subsequently arrested later that month.
Molina is serving a 20-year prison sentence for her May 4, 2011, conviction on first-degree manslaughter charges.
