Eight MS-13 Gang Members Plead Guilty to Multi-Year Racketeering Conspiracy Involving Murders and Witness Tampering | United States Department of Justice

Gang Members Plead Guilty, Year Racketeering Conspiracy Involving, Witness Tampering Monday — a summarized account of a Justice Department announcement. A federal district court judge will consider the sentencing stipulations and impose any prison term after considering the U.S. Galeotti of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. To protect MS-13’s power, reputation, and territory, members and associates must use intimidation and violence, including murder and assault with deadly weapons, such as machetes.As part of their plea deal, the defendants admitted to being members of MS-13 and participating in a criminal enterprise responsible for multiple murders, extortion, drug trafficking, robbery, and obstruction of justice in and around the Houston, Texas area from 2017 through 2018. Martinez-Rodriguez, Garcia-Gongora, and Rivas-Guido have agreed to a term from 45-50 years, while Carbajal-Peraza is expected to receive 40-45 years of imprisonment.Sentencing hearings for all eight defendants are scheduled to take place later this year. announcement Eight MS-13 Gang Members Plead Guilty to Multi-Year Racketeering alleged conspiracy Involving Murders and Witness Tampering Monday, September 8, 2025 Share Facebook X LinkedIn Email For Immediate Release Office of Public Affairs Eight members of the violent transnational criminal organization Mara Salvatrucha, commonly known as MS-13, entered a guilty plea today to allegations stemming from a multi-year racketeering alleged conspiracy that included multiple murders and acts of witness tampering. All four are citizens of El Salvador and were residing in the Houston area. The defendants—identified as Walter Antonio Chicas-Garcia, 28, aka “Mejia,” Wilson Jose Ventura-Mejia, 29, aka “Discreto,” Miguel Angel Aguilar-Ochoa, 40, aka “Darki,” and Marlon Miranda-Moran, 26, aka “Chinki,”—are all citizens of El Salvador and were unlawfully residing in Houston, Texas at the time of the offenses.According to their plea

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