Jose Manuel Romero-Parada, MS-13 Defendant, Ohio 2023

COLUMBUS, Ohio – Jose Manuel Romero-Parada, 25, formerly of Indianapolis, was sentenced in U.S. District Court today to 480 months in prison for his role in three murders, drug trafficking, extortion, money laundering, and assault.

Romero-Parada, also known as “Russo,” is one of 23 individuals charged in a second superseding indictment in February 2018 who are alleged to be members and associates of MS-13 in Columbus.

The defendants are charged in a racketeering conspiracy, which includes five murders as well as attempted murder, extortion, money laundering, drug trafficking, assault, obstruction of justice, witness intimidation, weapons offenses, and immigration-related violations.

Romero-Parada pleaded guilty in August 2019 and took responsibility for his role in the murders of Carlos Serrano-Ramos and Wilson Villeda, as well as his involvement in drug trafficking, extortion, money laundering, and assault.

As part of his plea, Romero-Parada also accepted responsibility for his role in an additional, unindicted murder that took place in 2017 in Indianapolis. Israel Anibal Mejia-Martinez was killed and dismembered with bladed weapons and buried in Grassy Creek Regional Park in Indianapolis. Law enforcement officers from Columbus and Indianapolis found his remains in August 2018.

“The purpose behind the brutality of the murders committed by MS-13 was to send a message to anyone who dare threaten their existence,” said U.S. Attorney David M. DeVillers. “Let this sentence be a message to MS-13 that we are threatening the existence of this transnational criminal organization.”

DeVillers is joined by Joseph M. Deters, Acting Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Cincinnati Division; Rebecca Adducci, Detroit Field Office Director, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Enforcement and Removal Operations; Franklin County Sheriff Dallas Baldwin and Columbus Police Chief Thomas Quinlan in announcing the sentence imposed today by U.S. District Court Judge Edmund A. Sargus, Jr.

The lead defendant, Martin Neftali Aguilar-Rivera (also known as Momia), was sentenced in October to life in prison with no chance of release. A total of 14 defendants have pleaded guilty this year, and six have been sentenced.

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdoh/pr/ms-13-defendant-sentenced-40-years-prison-role-3-murders-drug-trafficking-extortion