Three senior MS-13 gang members have pleaded guilty to taking part in a major criminal conspiracy involving multiple murders and violent crimes, according to U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei. Walter Antonio Chicas-Garcia, Wilson Jose Ventura-Mejia, and Miguel Angel Aguilar-Ochoa admitted to helping carry out brutal acts as part of MS-13's efforts to maintain control—from El Salvador to the streets of Houston. U.S. Attorney's Office say they not only committed crimes like murder and extortion, but also sent proof to leaders in El Salvador—and sometimes even let them listen in while the crimes were happening.
These surrenders to the U.S. judicial system come as part of a broader sweep dubbed Operation Take Back America, an initiative spearheaded by the Department of Justice that aims to combat illegal immigration and disband cartels along with transnational criminal outfits like MS-13 by consolidating efforts across agencies including the FBI, ICE's Homeland Security Investigations, and the Texas Office of the Attorney General, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office.
In a statement, Acting Assistant Attorney General Matthew R. Galeotti commented, "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," demonstrating a disregard for life that was as shocking as it was a gruesome badge of honor within the gang's ranks, as reported on the U.S. Attorney's Office official website.
The final reckoning for these MS-13 members will be determined by U.S. District Judge Jeffrey Brown in November, where sentences ranging from 35 to 50 years in federal prison will be affirmed, reflecting the ghastly nature of their crimes and the extent of their involvement as professed in their plea agreements; the courtroom awaits to impose what many hope will be a resolution to a grim chapter in their communities' histories, as per the U.S. Attorney's Office.
