Cruz was sentenced to one to 15 years for manslaughter in Gustin's death.

A sentence after a guilty plea is the judgment on the manslaughter count that was admitted. It is not a new accusation, and it is not a trial verdict on murder. On Monday, Sept. 21, 2026, Third District Judge Elizabeth Hruby-Mills sentenced Martin Antonio Cruz, 31, to one to 15 years in prison for second-degree felony manslaughter in the 2016 death of Paris Gustin, 16, and gave him credit for more than nine years already spent in custody. He entered the guilty plea on Aug. 3. KSL reported the sentence the next day.

Under the plea agreement, prosecutors reduced a first-degree felony murder count to manslaughter and dismissed three firearm counts. Brad Cooley of the Salt Lake County Attorney's Office tied that agreement to Cruz's cooperation in bringing Fortunato Nato Villagrana back. Cruz was willing to testify. Villagrana's jury trial is scheduled for early next year. A cooperation term explains why the murder count was reduced. It is not a murder verdict. The one-to-15-year term is the judgment on the manslaughter plea. Credit for more than nine years already spent in custody is time already served. It is not a second sentence.

The case account is July 5, 2016, in Salt Lake City's Rose Park neighborhood. Gustin and other teenagers were throwing eggs. An egg struck Villagrana. Villagrana got an AK-47-style weapon. Cruz was described as the driver and Villagrana as the passenger. Shots were fired near 600 North and 1000 West. Gustin was wounded in the head and back and was pronounced dead. Cruz and Villagrana were charged in February 2017 with murder and firearm offenses. Cruz later pleaded to manslaughter. That narrative is the case behind the Aug. 3 plea. It is not a jury finding of murder.