Four high-ranking members of Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13) were convicted on multiple charges, including racketeering and murder, following a federal jury verdict in Brooklyn. Edenilson Velasquez Larin, Hugo Diaz Amaya, Jose Espinoza Sanchez, and Jose Arevalo Iraheta face mandatory life sentences for their roles in several violent crimes, according to the U.S. Attorney’s office.
U.S. Attorney Joseph Nocella, Jr. stated that two of the defendants were national MS-13 leaders who had authorized murders on behalf of the gang across the country. The trial included evidence of the gang’s violent methods, such as machete attacks and dismemberment.
The convictions are part of Operation Take Back America, an initiative targeting transnational criminal organizations and cartels. MS-13 has been linked to numerous murders in the Eastern District of New York. The gang’s activities extend across the United States and into parts of Central America.
Velasquez Larin and Diaz Amaya were national leaders who coordinated MS-13’s operations on the East Coast, including activities such as drug trafficking and extortion. HSI New York Special Agent in Charge Ricky J. Patel stated that the convictions indicate the seriousness of their actions.
Federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies participated in the investigation and prosecution of the defendants. The FBI, HSI, NYPD, and the Eastern District of New York’s Organized Crime and Gangs Section led the operation. NYPD Commissioner Jessica S. Tisch highlighted the department’s involvement in addressing street gangs. The agencies’ coordination supports efforts to reduce gang-related violence and maintain public safety.
