A former MS-13 gang associate has pleaded guilty to his role in the 2011 murder of Norman Mizzell, a case that has remained open for nearly 15 years. In federal court in Brooklyn, Roger Morales admitted to the charge of murder in aid of racketeering. The proceedings were overseen by U.S. District Judge Brian M. Cogan. Morales faces a potential life sentence.
According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Morales’s dispute with Mizzell began over marijuana transactions and escalated into a burglary, eventually leading to the decision to kill Mizzell. The decision followed a confrontation in which the victim challenged Morales and another gang member over a prior robbery, which the gang interpreted as disrespect. On June 5, 2011, Morales and co-conspirators fatally shot Mizzell through his bedroom window. The case is being handled by the Office’s Organized Crime and Gangs Section, with Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kamil R. Ammari and John Vagelatos leading the prosecution.
Joseph Nocella, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, highlighted the significance of the guilty plea, noting that Morales has been held accountable for the 2011 murder of Norman Mizzell. He also emphasized that the conviction reflects the office’s ongoing effort to prosecute MS-13 members for violent crimes in the community and acknowledged the work of the FBI’s New York Field Office and the New York City Police Department on the case.
The investigation into Mizzell’s murder involved collaboration between the FBI and NYPD, which played key roles in bringing Morales to justice. The guilty plea resolves this case and underscores the focus on prosecuting violent criminal organizations. Prosecutors are preparing for Morales’s upcoming sentencing.
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