In a significant crackdown on gang violence, three top members of the notorious MS-13 gang have entered guilty pleas to racketeering charges related to a spate of murders across Long Island and Maryland. David Sosa-Guevara, "Risky," Victor Lopez-Morales, "Persa," and Kevin Torres, "Inquieto" or "Quieto," have admitted their roles in nine homicides between 2016 and 2017, alongside other criminal activities such as narcotics trafficking, according to a statement on the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York website.
The three men's involvement with the MS-13 gang, which is recognized for its brutal tactics, highlights a persistent issue plaguing parts of New York. In proceedings before Magistrate Judge Lee G. Dunst, Sosa-Guevara and Torres each face up to 65 years in prison, while Lopez-Morales could see up to 60 years. Collectively, they were linked to murders that involved machete attacks and shootings, crimes that were committed not just to control territory but also to firmly maintain and seem to increase their standing within the gang's ruthless hierarchy.
Acting United States Attorney Carolyn Pokorny described the admitted offenses as "savagely committed" and underscored that "the defendants will be severely punished by serving decades in prison," as the U.S. Attorney's Office stated. She also noted the significance of these guilty pleas offering "some measure of relief and closure to the families of the many victims." Among the agencies collaborating in the investigation were the FBI, Suffolk County Police Department, Nassau County Police Department, and the Nassau County District Attorney's Office, showcasing coordinated efforts to address gang-related crime.
The crimes for which the defendants were responsible form a harrowing list. For instance, they murdered 20-year-old Samuel Martinez-Sandoval with a machete in Roosevelt and killed 19-year-old Oscar Acosta in Brentwood after beating him unconscious. Sosa-Guevara and Lopez-Morales also directed the killing of 15-year-old Javier Castillo, and the three led a conspiracy to ultimately kidnap an MS-13 member who had violated gang rules in 2017. Each act of violence was a calculated step to enforce the gang's dominance and eliminate perceived threats from rival factions, as detailed by law enforcement.
