Worcester man pleads guilty to accessory after the fact in 2019 murder

WORCESTER ― A city man pleaded guilty Tuesday to being an accessory after the fact in connection with a murder in 2019.

Primitivo Matos-Lugo, 40, formerly of 21 Chandler St., Apt. 3, was one of three men who were caught on surveillance footage the morning of Sept. 10, 2019, loading the body of Benjamin Jesus Pacheco Colon, 30, into a car from inside 36 Great Brook Valley Ave. Colon's body was wrapped in plastic bubble material.

The victim's body was found dumped off Granite Street by firefighters responding to brush fire that same day.

After tracking the car through surveillance footage and information from Great Brook Valley Housing Development, authorities determined that the car belonged to Rafael Guzman, a 35-year-old man living at 36 Great Brook Valley Ave., who was identified as one of the three men carrying the body.

After loading the bundle in the car, Guzman drove off with the body. Prosecutors allege he later dumped the body off Granite Street.

Maura J. Tansley, attorney for Matos-Lugo, lobbied for her client to get two and a half years in the Worcester County Jail and House of Correction with 246 days to serve and 246 days deemed served, with the balance suspended for three years of supervised probation.

Assistant District Attorney David P. Feraco recommended that Matos-Lugo get five to seven years in prison.

Matos-Lugo has been out on bail with a GPS bracelet since May 18, 2000, according to Tansley.

During the last three and a half years, Matos-Lugo has been consistently employed in various physical labor jobs and is employed by Southeast Unloading, Tansley stated.

He’s also the father of a 3-year-old son and a 17-month-old girl.

According to Tansley, the request is so Matos-Lugo can continue to support his family and be present in his young family's life.

Judge Daniel M. Wrenn ruled that he be sentenced to time served and two years of probation.

Guzman has pleaded not guilty to one murder charge in connection to the killing of Pacheco Colon, who was Guzman’s uncle. Investigators found a stab wound to the victim's neck.

Guzman, the man charged with murder, has a scheduling conference Dec. 3. His case has yet to go to trial.

On Aug. 3, 2023, Daniel Luis Rivera, 31, who formerly lived on Euclid Avenue, also pleaded guilty to accessory after the fact in the case. He was sentenced to serve two years in prison.