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Murder

MS-13 Gang Members Sentenced to Life Imprisonment for Kidnapping and Murder of Teenagers

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

Five members of the transnational street gang La Mara Salvatrucha, or MS-13, have received sentences of life imprisonment for their roles in the kidnapping and murder of two adolescent boys in 2016. The victims, E.E.E.M. and S.A.A.T., were both teenagers who were targeted by the gang due to mistaken identities. The brutal murders involved multiple attacks with knives, machetes, and a pickaxe, with the bodies being disposed of in shallow graves.

Key Takeaways:

  • Five MS-13 gang members were sentenced to life imprisonment for their roles in the kidnapping and murder of two teenagers in 2016.
  • The victims, E.E.E.M. and S.A.A.T., were both 17 and 14 years old, respectively, at the time of their deaths.
  • The gang members targeted the teenagers due to mistaken identities, with E.E.E.M. being suspected of being a member of a rival gang and S.A.A.T. being suspected of being a police informant.
  • The murders involved multiple attacks with knives, machetes, and a pickaxe, with the bodies being disposed of in shallow graves.
  • The sentencing of the MS-13 gang members was a result of a joint investigation by the FBI, Fairfax County Police Department, and other law enforcement agencies.
  • The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Alexander E. Blanchard and Cristina C. Stam, with the assistance of former Assistant U.S. Attorney Rebeca H. Bellows.
  • The case was investigated as part of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) program, which aims to disrupt and dismantle major drug trafficking organizations.

Statistics:

  • 17 defendants have been charged in connection with the case, with 5 being convicted at trial and another 9 pleading guilty.
  • The 5 gang members who were convicted at trial were sentenced to life imprisonment, with each sentence consisting of 6 terms of life imprisonment and 2 terms of 120 months.
  • The victims, E.E.E.M. and S.A.A.T., were both teenagers who were targeted and murdered by the MS-13 gang.
  • The gang members used multiple methods to kill their victims, including stabbing, chopping, and using a pickaxe.
  • The investigation was a joint effort involving multiple law enforcement agencies, including the FBI, Fairfax County Police Department, and other federal agencies.

Sources:

  • United States Attorneys General
  • FBI Washington Field Office
  • Fairfax County Police Department
  • U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Washington Field Office
  • U.S. Marshals Service
  • Alexandria Police Department
  • Prince William County Police Department
  • Montgomery County (MD) Police Department
  • Marin County (CA) Sheriff's Office
  • Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) program

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