Four MS-13 Clique Leaders Convicted in Boston RICO Case

Four members of the Eastside Loco Salvatrucha (ESLS) clique of MS-13 were convicted by a federal jury in Boston following a trial exposing the violent inner workings of one of the nation’s most feared street gangs. The convictions mark a significant blow to the gang’s operations in Massachusetts, where the organization has terrorized communities through a campaign of murder, intimidation, and drug trafficking.

Herzzon Sandoval, a/k/a “Casper,” 36; Edwin Guzman, a/k/a “Playa,” 32; and Erick Argueta Larios, a/k/a “Lobo,” 33, a Salvadoran national illegally residing in the U.S., were found guilty of conspiracy to conduct enterprise affairs through a pattern of racketeering activity—commonly known as RICO conspiracy. Cesar Martinez, a/k/a “Cheche,” 37, also a Salvadoran national illegally in the U.S., was convicted of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine.

Sandoval and Guzman served as the top-ranking leaders—referred to as the “first word” and “second word”—of the ESLS clique in Massachusetts. The gang, identified by prosecutors as a violent transnational criminal organization, demands acts of violence from members to gain status. The trial revealed that MS-13 cliques operate across the U.S., including in Boston, where they enforce loyalty through beatings, murder, and drug distribution.

The convictions stem in part from the Sept. 20, 2015, murder of a 15-year-old boy in East Boston by Joel Martinez, a/k/a “Animal.” For carrying out the killing, Martinez was promoted to “homeboy” status in a January 8, 2016, ESLS meeting where Sandoval, Guzman, Cesar Martinez, and Argueta Larios were present. The promotion included a 13-second beating administered by fellow gang members—a ritual of initiation enforced by the organization. Joel Martinez has since pleaded guilty to RICO conspiracy and admitted responsibility for the murder.

The RICO conspiracy charge carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a $250,000 fine. The drug conspiracy charge against Cesar Martinez mandates a minimum of five years and up to 40 years in prison, four years of supervised release, and a $5 million fine. Martinez and Argueta Larios will face deportation after serving their sentences. Sentencing is scheduled for May 29 (Sandoval), May 30 (Guzman), May 31 (Martinez), and June 1 (Argueta Larios) before U.S. District Court Judge F. Dennis Saylor IV.

This takedown was the result of a sweeping federal investigation led by U.S. Attorney Andrew E. Lelling, the FBI’s Boston Field Division, Homeland Security Investigations, the Massachusetts State Police, and multiple local law enforcement agencies across Suffolk, Essex, and Middlesex counties. The coordinated effort underscores the federal government’s ongoing crackdown on transnational gangs embedded in American cities.

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