A federal jury in Los Angeles has convicted five members of the violent transnational gang Mara Salvatrucha 13, or MS-13, on murder and racketeering charges following a sprawling nine-week trial that prosecutors say marks a major victory in an ongoing national crackdown on gang-related violence.
According to the Department of Justice, the defendants were found guilty of carrying out six murders across Southern California — killings that authorities say were used to solidify their reputations and gain higher status within the gang’s ranks.
The verdict comes amid renewed pressure from federal agencies under what officials describe as a “zero-tolerance” initiative to dismantle MS-13’s U.S. network.
Grisly Details Emerge in Court
Evidence presented at trial painted a harrowing picture of violence. Prosecutors said the victims — believed to be rivals or suspected traitors within MS-13’s own cliques — were strangled, shot, stabbed, or beaten to death, in some cases with machetes and baseball bats. Several of the bodies were later dumped in remote areas of the Angeles National Forest.
“These murders were not random,” prosecutors wrote. “They were part of a deliberate campaign of terror meant to enforce loyalty, eliminate threats, and climb the hierarchy of one of the world’s most feared criminal organizations.”
The five men convicted include Walter Chavez Larin, 26; Roberto Alejandro Corado Ortiz, 30; Edwin Martinez, 28; Bryan Alexander Rosales Arias, 28; and Erick Eduardo Rosales Arias, 27 — all residents of the Los Angeles area.
Chavez and Corado were each convicted on two counts of violent crimes in aid of racketeering (VICAR) murder, while Martinez was convicted on three. The Rosales brothers were each found guilty on one count.
All five face potential life sentences without parole.
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Federal Crackdown and “No Mercy” Policy
The convictions are the latest milestone in a multi-agency operation led by the FBI’s Los Angeles Field Office — part of a coordinated crackdown directed by senior federal officials Kash Patel and Dan Bongino, according to DOJ sources.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli praised the jury’s decision, saying it “sends a clear message” to organized gangs nationwide.
“MS-13 is a violent, brutal gang that must be eliminated from the United States, and we will not stop until we succeed,” Essayli said in a post-trial statement.
Attorney General Pamela Bondi echoed the sentiment, crediting the Trump administration’s hardline approach for giving law enforcement “the tools and the mandate” to destroy the gang’s U.S. infrastructure.
“Under President Trump, MS-13 can no longer unleash terror on the American people with impunity,” Bondi said. “We will eradicate this foreign terrorist organization and secure justice for its victims.”
Inside the Gang’s Deadly Hierarchy
Trial testimony revealed that the defendants belonged to interconnected MS-13 factions based in Los Angeles — local “cliques” that operated under orders from higher-ranking members in El Salvador.
Prosecutors said the gang’s internal code required members to commit acts of extreme violence, including murder, to rise in rank. Victims were often targeted for violating internal rules, suspected disloyalty, or affiliation with rival groups such as the 18th Street Gang.
“The barbaric attacks carried out by these men were not random acts,” said Akil Davis, Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI’s Los Angeles Field Office. “They were calculated, ritualistic displays of loyalty. The verdict today delivers a measure of justice — and removes murderers and terrorists from our streets.”
Local and Federal Officials Respond
Law enforcement leaders across Southern California applauded the verdict, calling it a victory for cooperation between local police and federal agencies.
Los Angeles Police Chief Jim McDonnell described the case as “a reminder of why we cannot back down from organized crime.”
“The brutality of these crimes underscores the importance of our shared mission,” McDonnell said. “Together, we are stronger — and together, we will continue to stand against gang violence in all its forms.”
Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert G. Luna said the convictions send a message “that criminal intimidation and terror have no place in our communities.”
“These individuals tore families apart and brought fear to neighborhoods across Los Angeles,” Luna said. “Through relentless work, we’ve held them accountable.”
A Terror Designation and Its Consequences
The U.S. government has formally designated MS-13 as a foreign terrorist organization, a classification that allows prosecutors to use powerful anti-terror tools under the RICO and VICAR statutes.
That designation has led to some of the harshest sentences in U.S. criminal law — including mandatory life imprisonment without parole — and opened the door for intelligence-based targeting of the gang’s leadership in Central America.
The DOJ’s press release described MS-13 as a “hybrid criminal-terror network” with more than 10,000 members nationwide, concentrated in Los Angeles, New York, and the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area.
Federal officials say that since the gang’s designation, joint task forces have made more than 4,000 arrests across 30 states.
A Community Still Living in Fear
For many in Los Angeles’s immigrant communities, the verdict brings mixed emotions — relief that violent offenders have been removed from the streets, and lingering anxiety that more remain.
One local pastor who ministers to former gang members told reporters outside the courthouse that “fear runs deep.”
“MS-13 doesn’t just control people with guns — it controls them with fear,” he said. “People are afraid to talk, afraid to leave, afraid even to hope.”
Still, prosecutors insisted the convictions mark a turning point in their long battle with MS-13’s Los Angeles network.
“This verdict is the culmination of years of coordinated effort,” Essayli said. “And it’s proof that justice can prevail — even against those who believe they’re untouchable.”
What Comes Next
Sentencing for the five convicted members is scheduled for early 2026. Prosecutors have already indicated they will seek life imprisonment without parole for all defendants.
Federal agents say additional indictments may follow as part of broader efforts to dismantle MS-13’s regional leadership structures. The FBI has also signaled that similar operations are underway in Houston, Miami, and Long Island — areas where MS-13 cliques have been tied to high-profile murders and extortion rackets.
For Los Angeles, this week’s verdict marks both a victory and a warning: the fight, officials say, is far from over.
Emily Johnson is a critically acclaimed essayist and novelist known for her thought-provoking works centered on feminism, women’s rights, and modern relationships. Born and raised in Portland, Oregon, Emily grew up with a deep love of books, often spending her afternoons at her local library. She went on to study literature and gender studies at UCLA, where she became deeply involved in activism and began publishing essays in campus journals. Her debut essay collection, Voices Unbound, struck a chord with readers nationwide for its fearless exploration of gender dynamics, identity, and the challenges faced by women in contemporary society. Emily later transitioned into fiction, writing novels that balance compelling storytelling with social commentary. Her protagonists are often strong, multidimensional women navigating love, ambition, and the struggles of everyday life, making her a favorite among readers who crave authentic, relatable narratives. Critics praise her ability to merge personal intimacy with universal themes. Off the page, Emily is an advocate for women in publishing, leading workshops that encourage young female writers to embrace their voices. She lives in Seattle with her partner and two rescue cats, where she continues to write, teach, and inspire a new generation of storytellers.
