BOSTON – Another MS-13 thug is off the streets, but not for long. Nery Rodriguez Diaz, 19, was sentenced yesterday to 14 months in federal prison and three years of supervised release for being an illegal alien in possession of a firearm and ammunition. The sentence, handed down by U.S. District Court Judge F. Dennis Saylor IV, is just a temporary fix; Diaz will face deportation proceedings as soon as he finishes serving his time.
The bust went down on May 22, 2018, at Bremen Street Park in East Boston – a well-known hotspot for MS-13 activity and frequent gang-on-gang violence. Diaz wasn’t alone. He was apprehended alongside another MS-13 member, Elmer Alfaro Hercules, both packing loaded firearms. This wasn’t a case of self-defense; it was about armed gang members staking out territory.
Federal investigators quickly pieced together that both Diaz, a Salvadoran national residing in Chelsea, and Hercules had unlawfully entered the United States back in 2014 as unaccompanied minors. They exploited a broken system and then armed themselves, adding to the danger in an already volatile neighborhood. Both were slapped with federal charges for being aliens in possession of a firearm and ammunition – a charge that carries serious consequences.
Hercules already threw in the towel, pleading guilty and receiving a 13-month prison sentence and three years of supervised release. Like Diaz, he’s also facing deportation. This case highlights the revolving door of justice when dealing with illegal alien gang members: prison, release, and then deportation – a costly and ineffective cycle.
The takedown was a multi-agency effort, spearheaded by United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling, with crucial support from Joseph R. Bonavolonta (FBI Boston), Peter C. Fitzhugh (Homeland Security Investigations), Colonel Kerry A. Gilpin (Massachusetts State Police), Suffolk County District Attorney Rachel Rollins, Boston Police Commissioner William Gross, and Chelsea Police Chief Brian Kyes. They’re all touting this as a win, but the real victory will come when the system is fixed to prevent these individuals from entering the country in the first place.
While 14 months might seem like a modest sentence, it’s a reminder that federal authorities *are* paying attention to the escalating violence perpetrated by groups like MS-13. But the question remains: is it enough to stem the tide of gang activity and keep our communities safe? This case, like so many others, suggests the answer is a resounding no.
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Key Facts
- State: Massachusetts
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Organized Crime|Weapons|Violent Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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