⏱ 2 min read
An El Salvadoran illegal alien, Jose Ramos Lopez, 26, played a role in the brutal murder of a minor in Frederick, Maryland. On February 24, 2023, MS-13 gang members, including the victim, gathered outside an apartment complex before luring the victim to a wooded area to smoke marijuana. There, gang members stabbed and slashed the victim to death with knives and a machete. Lopez assisted in cleaning up the crime scene and disposing of evidence.
Law enforcement discovered the crime scene, finding a blood trail, blood on rocks, and a white plastic bag with blood. They also found a black trash bag with bloody items, including hats, coats, and pants, in a nearby dumpster. The victim’s body was dismembered and buried in two clandestine graves in a wooded area.
Lopez was sentenced to 7 years in prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release, for conspiracy to participate in a racketeering enterprise in connection with the murder. As an MS-13 member, Lopez was involved in selling marijuana and collecting extortion money from area brothels to raise money for the gang.
The sentence was announced by U.S. Attorney Kelly O. Hayes, along with the FBI Baltimore Field Office and the Frederick Police Department. The case highlights the violent activities of the MS-13 gang and the efforts of law enforcement to bring those responsible to justice.
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📋 Key Facts
- Crime: Violent Crime
- Defendant: Maryland
- Location: MD
- Source: DOJ Press Release
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