MS-13 Thug ‘Chapin’ Gets 10 Years for Chelsea Stabbing

BOSTON – A Chelsea street thug with ties to the notorious MS-13 gang is headed to federal prison after admitting his role in a brutal racketeering conspiracy and a near-fatal stabbing. Domingo Tizol, a/k/a “Chapin,” 23, was sentenced today to 10 years behind bars and three years of supervised release for his part in the gang’s criminal activities.

U.S. District Court Judge F. Dennis Saylor IV handed down the sentence, ensuring Tizol, a Guatemalan national, will be deported following his release. The conviction stems from a May 26, 2015 assault on Bellingham Street in Chelsea, where Tizol and fellow MS-13 member Bryan Galicia-Barillas, a/k/a “Chucky,” viciously attacked a suspected rival gang member. Witnesses described a coordinated assault, with Tizol delivering punches while Barillas repeatedly stabbed the victim.

The victim, though surviving the onslaught, suffered life-threatening injuries. The attack wasn’t an isolated incident. Tizol’s conviction is part of a larger crackdown on MS-13 operations in Massachusetts. A superseding indictment targeted 61 individuals allegedly connected to the gang’s leadership, membership, and associated criminal enterprises. Barillas has already pleaded guilty and is awaiting his own sentencing.

Federal authorities have been relentless in dismantling MS-13’s foothold in the region. The investigation, a multi-agency effort, involved the FBI, Homeland Security Investigations, Massachusetts State Police, and numerous local law enforcement departments including Boston, Chelsea, Everett, Lynn, Revere, and Somerville. The collaborative approach demonstrates a unified front against the gang’s reign of terror.

United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling, along with the heads of the involved agencies – Harold H. Shaw (FBI), Michael Shea (HSI), Colonel Kerry A. Gilpin (MSP), Commissioner Thomas Turco (DOC), Essex County Sheriff Kevin F. Coppinger, Suffolk County Sheriff Steven W. Thompkins, and District Attorneys Daniel F. Conley, Marian T. Ryan, and Jonathan Blodgett – announced the sentencing. Boston Police Commissioner William Evans and Chelsea Police Chief Brian A. Kyes also contributed to the investigation.

This sentencing sends a clear message: those who engage in racketeering and violent crime, particularly those affiliated with dangerous gangs like MS-13, will be brought to justice. The 10-year sentence for Tizol, coupled with his impending deportation, is a significant blow to the gang’s presence in Massachusetts. Grimy Times will continue to track the remaining defendants in this case and report on the ongoing efforts to eradicate MS-13 from our streets.