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Murder

MS-13 Gang Members Plead Guilty to 50-Year Sentences in Large-Scale Racketeering Conspiracy

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

Eight members of the Mara Salvatrucha gang, commonly known as MS-13, have pleaded guilty to charges stemming from a racketeering conspiracy that included multiple murders and acts of witness tampering in the Houston area. The gang members, who are all from El Salvador, have agreed to terms of imprisonment ranging from 35 to 50 years, with five high-level members facing 50-year sentences. The defendants carried out brutal murders using machetes, baseball bats, and their bare hands, and then sent photos of the victims' bodies to MS-13 leaders in El Salvador.

Key Takeaways:

  • Eight MS-13 gang members pleaded guilty to charges of racketeering conspiracy, murder, and witness tampering in the Houston area.
  • The gang members, who are all from El Salvador, agreed to terms of imprisonment ranging from 35 to 50 years.
  • Five high-level MS-13 members faced 50-year sentences, while the remaining three pleaded to 35-year terms.
  • The defendants committed brutal murders using machetes, baseball bats, and their bare hands.
  • The gang members sent photos of the victims' bodies to high-ranking MS-13 leaders in El Salvador.
  • The investigation, led by the FBI and ICE, involved multiple law enforcement agencies and took over a year to complete.
  • The case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative to repel the invasion of illegal immigration and eliminate cartels and transnational criminal organizations.
  • Assistant U.S. Attorney Keri Fuller and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Britni Verdeja are prosecuting the case, along with Trial Attorney Cesar S. Rivera-Giraud from the Criminal Division's Violent Crime and Racketeering Section.

Statistics:

  • 8 MS-13 gang members pleaded guilty in the case.
  • The gang members agreed to 35-50 years of imprisonment.
  • 5 high-level MS-13 members faced 50-year sentences.
  • 3 MS-13 members pleaded to 35-year terms.
  • The defendants committed at least 1 murder.
  • The gang members sent photos of 1 or more victims' bodies to high-ranking MS-13 leaders in El Salvador.
  • The investigation involved multiple law enforcement agencies, including the FBI and ICE.
  • The case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that seeks to repel the invasion of illegal immigration and eliminate cartels and transnational criminal organizations.

Sources:

  • [U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Texas](https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdtx/pr/three-high-level-ms-13-gang-members-plead-guilty-50-year-sentences-large-scale)
  • [Department of Justice Press Release](https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/three-high-level-ms-13-gang-members-plead-guilty-50-year-sentences-large-scale)
  • [FBI Press Release](https://www.fbi.gov/news/pressrel/press-releases/three-high-level-ms-13-gang-members-plead-guilty-50-year-sentences-large-scale)
  • [ICE Press Release](https://www.ice.gov/news/releases/three-high-level-ms-13-gang-members-plead-guilty-50-year-sentences-large-scale)

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