Federal prosecutors say eight MS-13 members have pleaded guilty to racketeering charges tied to a string of killings in which victims were beaten or hacked to death, and photos of their bodies were sent to El Salvador.
The defendants, all citizens of El Salvador unlawfully residing in Houston, admitted to committing multiple murders, including using machetes, a baseball bat, and strangulation, and sending photos of victims’ bodies to MS-13 leaders in El Salvador for approval. Prosecutors said the gang targeted rivals, suspected informants, and others believed to oppose MS-13.
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Walter Antonio Chicas-Garcia, 28, Wilson Jose Ventura-Mejia, 29, and Miguel Angel Aguilar-Ochoa, 40, each face 50 years in prison, while Marlon Miranda-Moran, 26, will serve 35 years. Four other members, Luis Ernesto Carbajal-Peraza, 33, Edgardo Martinez-Rodriguez, 35, Carlos Alexi Garcia-Gongora, 27, and Wilman Rivas-Guido, 29, face between 40 and 50 years each. Sentencing is scheduled for later this year.
“These defendants carried out brutal murders in the name of MS-13, killing victims with machetes, baseball bats, and their bare hands,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Matthew R. Galeotti. “They terrorized communities and targeted those brave enough to cooperate with law enforcement. Today’s guilty pleas send a powerful message that the Justice Department will aggressively pursue MS-13 members who use violence and murder to terrorize our communities.”
The case is part of Operation Take Back America, a national Justice Department initiative targeting transnational criminal organizations. The FBI, Homeland Security Investigations, and multiple Texas law enforcement agencies worked on the multi-year investigation.