Three alleged members of the notorious gang MS-13 face serious charges as federal authorities in Massachusetts highlight their involvement in different murder cases over the past decade. According to a statement from the U.S. Attorney's Office, William Pineda Portillo, Jose Vasquez, and Franklin Antonio Amaya Paredes are indicted on charges of racketeering and participation in violent crimes related to racketeering. These charges are linked to brutal murders that occurred in December 2010 and July 2020.
In the earlier case, Pineda Portillo and Vasquez stand accused of the murder of a 28-year-old man found with multiple stab wounds. Their involvement allegedly extends to participation in MS-13's violent racketeering activities. Pineda Portillo, known by the moniker "Humilde," and Vasquez, referred to as "Cholo" or "Little Crazy," are currently held in federal custody, as stated in the press release. The indictment details say Pineda Portillo helped transport the victim to the crime scene while Vasquez's palm print was discovered on a knife left at the site of the brutal killing.
On the other hand, Amaya Paredes has been linked to a 2020 crime where a 27-year-old individual was lured to a family party, abducted, and subsequently killed. Surveillance footage purportedly places Amaya Paredes with the victim in a Honda Pilot minivan, traveling to the location of the murder around the time when gunshots were reported. The authorities allege that this act was intended to boost Amaya Paredes's standing within MS-13, a claim established following his prior arrest by the state on murder charges.
The federal indictments reflect a tenacious pursuit of justice by both local and federal agencies, exemplified by statements from officials. "The charges announced today reflect the relentless commitment of this office and our law enforcement partners to holding violent criminals accountable, no matter how much time has passed," Acting U.S. Attorney Joshua S. Levy remarked in the press release. Furthermore, FBI's Jodi Cohen pointed to the cruelty of the alleged murderers, emphasizing zero-tolerance policy towards such violence in Massachusetts.
These cases, prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christopher J. Pohl, Brian A. Fogerty and Meghan C. Cleary, also mirror continuous efforts to disrupt gang operations through the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) Strike Force Initiative.
