BOSTON – A foot soldier in the brutal MS-13 gang, Angel Pineda, a/k/a “Bravo,” 21, has confessed to his role in a savage attempted murder and a wider racketeering conspiracy. Pineda, a Honduran national residing in Revere, pleaded guilty in federal court today to conspiracy to conduct enterprise affairs through a pattern of racketeering activity – a RICO conspiracy – directly admitting his involvement in the September 2014 stabbing of a rival 18th Street gang member in Chelsea, Massachusetts.
The plea, while not yet formally accepted by U.S. District Court Judge F. Dennis Saylor IV, comes with a proposed sentence of 10 years behind bars. Upon completion of that sentence, Pineda will face immediate deportation. This case is the culmination of a three-year federal investigation that swept up 61 individuals accused of fueling the violence and criminal enterprise of MS-13 within the state. Pineda was a member of the Enfermos Criminales Salvatrucha clique, operating within Chelsea’s underbelly.
Federal prosecutors detailed how MS-13 operates as a transnational criminal organization, demanding acts of violence – particularly against rivals – as a twisted form of initiation, promotion, and internal discipline. According to court documents, attacking and attempting to murder members of opposing gangs isn’t just encouraged, it’s expected. On September 8, 2014, Pineda, alongside Jose Vasquez, a/k/a “Little Crazy,” carried out that expectation, ambushing and stabbing a member of the 18th Street gang. The attack left the victim fighting for his life.
The RICO conspiracy charge carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, alongside three years of supervised release and a hefty $250,000 fine. However, it’s understood that federal sentencing typically falls below the maximum penalties, guided by U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other legal considerations. Pineda is the fourteenth defendant to admit guilt in this sprawling case, signaling a slow but steady unraveling of MS-13’s Massachusetts network.
The announcement was made jointly by a coalition of federal and state law enforcement officials, including Acting United States Attorney William D. Weinreb, Harold H. Shaw of the FBI’s Boston Field Division, and Matthew Etre of Homeland Security Investigations. Also present were representatives from the Massachusetts State Police, Department of Corrections, and several county sheriffs and district attorneys. The collaborative effort highlights the seriousness with which authorities are tackling the threat posed by MS-13.
It’s crucial to remember that the details presented in court documents are allegations at this stage. While Pineda has pleaded guilty, the remaining defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. The Grimy Times will continue to track this case and provide updates as they become available, shining a light on the dark corners of organized crime in Massachusetts.
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Key Facts
- State: Massachusetts
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Organized Crime|Violent Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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