Eight members of the notorious transnational gang MS-13 have pleaded guilty to charges tied to a multi-year criminal conspiracy that involved multiple murders, extortion, and witness tampering.
The defendants, all Salvadoran nationals living illegally in Houston at the time, now face decades behind bars for their violent actions.
The Defendants and Their Sentences
Among those pleading guilty are Walter Antonio Chicas-Garcia, 28, aka “Mejia”; Wilson Jose Ventura-Mejia, 29, aka “Discreto”; Miguel Angel Aguilar-Ochoa, 40, aka “Darki”; and Marlon Miranda-Moran, 26, aka “Chinki.”
According to their plea deals, Chicas-Garcia, Ventura-Mejia, and Aguilar-Ochoa will each serve 50 years in prison, while Miranda-Moran is set to receive a 35-year sentence.
Earlier this month, four additional MS-13 members—Luis Ernesto Carbajal-Peraza, 33, aka “Destino”; Edgardo Martinez-Rodriguez, 35, aka “Largo”; Carlos Alexi Garcia-Gongora, 27, aka “Garcia”; and Wilman Rivas-Guido, 29, aka “Inquieto”—also pleaded guilty to the same racketeering conspiracy.
Sentencing ranges for these defendants vary from 40 to 50 years.
Brutal Crimes Committed to Maintain Gang Power
Acting Assistant Attorney General Matthew R. Galeotti described the horrific acts committed by the gang.
“These defendants carried out brutal murders in the name of MS-13, killing victims with machetes, baseball bats, and their bare hands, and then sending photos of the victims’ bodies to MS-13 leaders in El Salvador,” he said.
The violent actions were carried out to maintain status within the gang and to intimidate anyone cooperating with law enforcement.
MS-13’s Reach and Methods
Court documents outline MS-13’s extensive operations across the U.S., including Texas, Virginia, Maryland, New York, and California, as well as their large presence in El Salvador and Honduras.
The gang uses intimidation, assault, and murder to protect its territory and power.
High-ranking leaders in El Salvador often ordered or approved killings, sometimes listening in by phone as members carried out the acts.
Details of the Criminal Enterprise
The defendants admitted to participating in multiple murders, extortion, drug trafficking, robbery, and obstruction of justice in Houston between 2017 and 2018.
Victims were often targeted for being part of rival gangs, cooperating with law enforcement, or working against MS-13’s interests.
After committing murders with machetes, baseball bats, or strangulation, gang members sent photos of the victims to leaders in El Salvador, occasionally mutilating the bodies further before sending images.
Upcoming Sentencing
Sentencing hearings for all eight defendants are scheduled for later this year.
A federal judge will consider the agreed-upon sentencing ranges as well as the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors before issuing final sentences.
Agencies and Prosecution Efforts
The investigation involved multiple federal and local agencies, including the FBI, Homeland Security Investigations, Houston Police Department, Harris County Sheriff’s Office, Galveston Police Department, Texas Department of Public Safety, and the U.S. Marshal Service.
Prosecutors include Trial Attorney César S. Rivera-Giraud, Assistant U.S. Attorney Keri Fuller, and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Britni Verdeja.
Part of a Larger Initiative
This case falls under Operation Take Back America, a nationwide DOJ initiative aimed at dismantling cartels and transnational criminal organizations, tackling violent crime, and protecting communities.
By pooling resources from programs like OCDETF and Project Safe Neighborhoods, the DOJ seeks to aggressively pursue members of gangs like MS-13.