MS-13’s Edwin Amaya Indicted in Boston RICO Conspiracy

BOSTON — A violent corner of MS-13’s sprawling criminal network has been targeted in federal court with the April 24, 2019, indictment of 18-year-old Edwin Amaya Mejia Alvarado, a Salvadoran national tied to the Huntington Locos Salvatrucha clique. Charged with one count of racketeering conspiracy, Amaya Mejia now faces a maximum of 20 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release, and a $250,000 fine.

Amaya Mejia, who had been living in East Boston, was taken into custody following an initial appearance in federal court. The indictment alleges his active participation in a criminal enterprise rooted in violence, intimidation, and territorial control. Prosecutors say MS-13 uses brutal tactics to expand its influence, including murder, attempted murder, robbery, and narcotics trafficking across Massachusetts.

According to the Justice Department, MS-13 operates as a transnational street gang with deep roots in Massachusetts and nationwide. The gang’s rituals and retaliation campaigns often escalate into public violence designed to silence witnesses and terrorize communities. The indictment details how members engage in firearms possession, witness tampering, and retaliation — acts meant to shield the organization from law enforcement.

Amaya Mejia’s alleged affiliation with the Huntington Locos Salvatrucha clique places him within a violent subset of MS-13 known for enforcing gang loyalty through bloodshed. Federal authorities say such cliques operate semi-autonomously but remain bound to the larger structure of MS-13’s criminal hierarchy, which thrives on drug sales, extortion, and control of urban neighborhoods.

The case was announced by a coalition of top law enforcement officials, including U.S. Attorney Andrew E. Lelling, FBI Boston Chief Joseph R. Bonavolonta, and Homeland Security Investigations’ Peter C. Fitzhugh. Also joining the press were Colonel Kerry A. Gilpin of the Massachusetts State Police, Suffolk County DA Rachael Rollins, Middlesex County DA Marian T. Ryan, Essex County DA Jonathan Blodgett, and police chiefs from Boston, Chelsea, Lynn, and Revere.

As with all federal cases, the charges against Edwin Amaya Mejia Alvarado are allegations. He is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. If convicted, he also faces mandatory deportation proceedings following any prison sentence. The case underscores the federal government’s ongoing crackdown on transnational gangs embedded in American cities.