ANNAPOLIS, MD – Manuel Martinez-Aguilar, a 20-year-old member of the notorious MS-13 gang, known on the streets as “El Lunatic” and “Zomb,” will spend the next 24 years in federal prison. Chief U.S. District Judge James K. Bredar handed down the sentence today, followed by five years of supervised release, for conspiracy to participate in a racketeering enterprise and for the unlawful discharge of a firearm during a violent crime.
The case, a joint effort by multiple federal and state agencies, shines a harsh light on the brutal operations of MS-13 within Maryland. United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Robert K. Hur announced the sentencing alongside officials from ICE-HSI, ATF, the Anne Arundel Police Department, and the Anne Arundel County State’s Attorney Office. The investigation revealed a network of MS-13 “Programs” – coordinated cliques like Hempstead Locos Salvatruchas (HLS), Parkview Locos Salvatrucha (PVLS), and others – working to expand the gang’s reach through violence, extortion, and intimidation.
MS-13’s core philosophy, according to court documents, is chillingly simple: “Mata, roba, viola, controla” – kill, steal, rape, control. Members are expected to demonstrate unwavering loyalty through violence, particularly against rival “chavalas.” Martinez-Aguilar’s involvement, dating back to 2015, centered around the Hempstead clique and a conspiracy that included attempted murder, assaults, robbery, and drug trafficking. The goal? To climb the ranks within the gang’s brutal hierarchy.
The sentencing stems from a meticulously detailed plea agreement. In October 2016, Martinez-Aguilar and fellow MS-13 members plotted the murder of an unlicensed cab driver believed to be a rival gang member. The plan, hatched in a local park, involved assigning tasks, including the use of machetes, knives, and firearms. Martinez-Aguilar and another member were specifically tasked with disposing of the victim’s vehicle after the planned execution. The intended burial site? The same park where the murder was conceived.
The chilling execution unfolded after luring the victim, and an unsuspecting passenger, under the guise of a taxi fare. Victim 2 drove to the 700 block of Annapolis Neck Road, unaware he was driving into a trap. While details of the actual attack remain sealed, the plea agreement clearly established Martinez-Aguilar’s participation in the conspiracy and his knowledge of the impending violence. The evidence presented painted a picture of cold-blooded planning and ruthless intent.
This 24-year sentence sends a clear message: federal and local authorities are united in their commitment to dismantling MS-13 and bringing its members to justice. The investigation remains ongoing, with authorities vowing to continue targeting the gang’s leadership and disrupting its criminal enterprises throughout Maryland and beyond. The streets of Annapolis, and the surrounding counties, are a little safer today with “El Lunatic” behind bars.”
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Key Facts
- State: Maryland
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Organized Crime|Violent Crime|Weapons
- Source: Official Source ↗
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