Brooklyn, New York – A convicted drug trafficker has been found guilty of working as a paid assassin for a Manhattan real estate developer who orchestrated the killing of a former employee turned rival.
Antony Abreu, 36, was convicted of murder-for-hire charges in the 2019 slaying of Xin “Chris” Gu outside a Queens karaoke bar. The victim, Gu, had worked at Yu’s multimillion-dollar apartment renovation firm, Amaco, before leaving to start his own business, taking valuable clients with him.
Enraged by Gu’s departure, Qing Ming “Allen” Yu, the real estate developer, tasked his nephew to assemble a team to seek revenge. Abreu was recruited by an accomplice to carry out the hit in exchange for a high-end wristwatch valued at over $100,000.
In a dramatic turn of events, Abreu, who is already serving time for drug-related offenses, showed no emotion as the jury announced the guilty verdict. His mother, present in the courtroom, reacted with sadness and tears upon hearing the news.
The prosecution painted Abreu as a heartless assassin motivated by greed and revenge, while the defense argued against the validity of the evidence, vowing to continue fighting the verdict.
During the trial, Abreu took the stand in his defense, claiming he was elsewhere at the time of the killing. However, the prosecution dismantled his alibi, highlighting inconsistencies in his story and challenging the credibility of his witness.
The trial faced several challenges, including the dismissal of jurors and delays in reaching a verdict. Despite these obstacles, justice prevailed as the jury ultimately found Abreu guilty of his role in the murder-for-hire plot.
As the legal proceedings concluded, Brooklyn U.S. Attorney Breon Peace expressed satisfaction with the outcome, emphasizing that the victim was targeted simply for pursuing the American Dream of entrepreneurship. Abreu now faces a mandatory life sentence for his involvement in the crime.