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MS-13 Members Convicted of Murder in Virginia
ALEXANDRIA, Va. – Five members of the transnational street gang La Mara Salvatrucha, or MS-13, were convicted late yesterday by a federal jury for their roles in the kidnapping and murder of two adolescent boys in 2016.
According to court records and evidence presented at trial, MS-13 gang members Elmer Zelaya Martinez, Ronald Herrera Contreras, Henry Zelaya Martinez, Pablo Velasco Barrera, and Duglas Ramirez Ferrera, along with their co-conspirators, targeted E.E.E.M., a 17-year-old resident of Falls Church, who they erroneously suspected was a member of the rival 18th Street gang. On the night of August 28, 2016, the gang lured E.E.E.M. to Holmes Run Stream Valley Park in Fairfax County under the pretense that there was going to be a gang meeting there. Instead, in a wooded area of the park, gang members restrained, attacked, and killed E.E.E.M., stabbing and chopping him more than 100 times with knives, a machete, and a pickaxe. Afterwards, the gang broke one of E.E.E.M.’s legs so that his body would fit into the pre-dug hole that was nearby.
Court records and evidence presented at trial also established that the same gang members, along with their co-conspirators, targeted S.A.A.T., a 14-year-old resident of Alexandria, who they erroneously suspected was a police informant. On the evening of September 26, 2016, the gang told S.A.A.T. that there was going to be a gang meeting later that night and encouraged him to attend. Not long thereafter, S.A.A.T. went outside in his pajamas, telling his mother he was just taking out the trash. Eventually, several gang members picked up S.A.A.T. and drove him to the same park where they had killed E.E.E.M. The gang members restrained, attacked, and killed S.A.A.T., stabbing and chopping him with knives, machetes, and a pickaxe. They also filmed the murder with a cell phone so that they could prove to gang leaders in the United States and in El Salvador that they deserved to be promoted in rank. Once S.A.A.T. was dead, the gang broke his legs and tied him up with his own pajama pants so that he would fit into the shallow grave that was dug for him that night.
To date, a total of 17 defendants have been charged in this case. Of those, five defendants went to trial and were convicted of all charges. Nine defendants pleaded guilty prior to trial.
The five defendants convicted today are facing mandatory life sentences in prison for murder in aid of racketeering activity and for kidnapping resulting in death. Each of the defendants faces a sentence of life in prison for murder in aid of racketeering activity and for kidnapping resulting in death.
Mandatory Facts:
Defendant: Elmer Zelaya Martinez, Ronald Herrera Contreras, Henry Zelaya Martinez, Pablo Velasco Barrera, Duglas Ramirez Ferrera
Criminal Charges: Conspiracy to commit kidnapping and murder in aid of racketeering activity; conspiracy to kidnap; murder in aid of racketeering activity; kidnapping resulting in death
City and State: Alexandria, Virginia
Exact Date: August 28, 2016, and September 26, 2016
Sentence: Mandatory life sentence in prison for murder in aid of racketeering activity and for kidnapping resulting in death
Key Facts
- State: Virginia
- Category: Violent Crime, Organized Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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