A nine-week trial exposes the gang’s violent hierarchy, chilling methods, and the sweeping federal campaign aiming to dismantle the organization once and for all.
The federal courtroom in downtown Los Angeles was silent on Tuesday afternoon as the jury filed in, the air heavy with the weight of nine weeks of testimony, dozens of witnesses, disturbing photographs, and hours of graphic forensic evidence. The moment the foreperson rose and announced the verdict, it marked not only the conclusion of a grueling trial but also a defining chapter in the ongoing national effort to confront one of the world’s most violent criminal enterprises: Mara Salvatrucha, better known as MS-13.
Five members of the transnational gang were convicted of carrying out six murders in and around the Los Angeles region. Federal prosecutors alleged the killings were not random acts of violence but orchestrated executions carried out to boost the defendants’ standing within MS-13’s internal hierarchy — a structure that rewards ruthlessness, loyalty, and the willingness to inflict extreme brutality.
According to prosecutors, the crimes reflected the gang’s long-standing reliance on fear, intimidation, and ritualistic violence to enforce order both within the organization and in the neighborhoods they seek to control. The victims included rival gang members, individuals suspected of violating MS-13’s rigid internal rules, and people simply caught in the gang’s expanding influence.
The verdicts, delivered unanimously, represent a significant victory for federal authorities, who said the case demonstrates the strength of an intensified law enforcement campaign targeting MS-13’s U.S. presence — a campaign led by the FBI under senior officials Kash Patel and Dan Bongino.
A Case Built on Terror, Control, and Gang Hierarchy
The Justice Department detailed the crimes in stark terms in its news release shortly after the verdict. The victims, prosecutors said, were killed in a variety of gruesome ways: strangulation, shootings, stabbings with knives and machetes, and savage beatings with a baseball bat. Some bodies were discarded in remote areas of the Angeles National Forest, thrown off cliffs or dumped down steep hillsides to delay discovery.
“These crimes were not impulsive acts,” prosecutors emphasized in court. “They were deliberate demonstrations of loyalty. To rise in MS-13, you must kill — and you must kill violently.”
The defendant group consisted of five men, all residents of various Los Angeles neighborhoods long affected by gang rivalries:
-
Walter Chavez Larin, 26
-
Roberto Alejandro Corado Ortiz, 30
-
Edwin Martinez, 28
-
Bryan Alexander Rosales Arias, 28
-
Erick Eduardo Rosales Arias, 27
Chavez, Corado, and Martinez were found guilty of conspiracy to violate the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act, a statute often used to dismantle organized criminal groups. Chavez and Corado were convicted of two counts each of violent crimes in aid of racketeering (VICAR) murder. Martinez was convicted on three VICAR murder counts. Bryan and Erick Rosales Arias were each convicted of one VICAR murder count.
These charges reflect some of the most severe criminal penalties available to federal prosecutors. VICAR murder convictions typically carry mandatory life sentences, and prosecutors have indicated they will seek the maximum penalties allowed under law.
A Nine-Week Trial Marked by Chilling Testimony
The trial unfolded in painful detail. Federal agents, homicide detectives, forensic specialists, and cooperating witnesses reconstructed the timeline of the murders, the internal conversations between gang members, and the violent rituals that cemented the gang’s control.
Jurors heard recorded phone calls, encrypted messages, and testimony from former gang affiliates who risked their lives to testify. Many witnesses described the coercive structure within MS-13 — a system where members who refuse orders are targeted for punishment or death.
One cooperating witness described MS-13’s unwritten but ironclad rule: “If you want respect, you spill blood.” Another testified that the defendants were eager to climb the ranks, volunteering for killings as opportunities to prove themselves.
Photos presented in court depicted remote dumping sites, scenes of violent struggle, blood-soaked clothing, and evidence of post-mortem attempts to hide bodies. For many jurors, according to those present in the courtroom, the images were difficult to view.
“A lot of people associate gangs with turf wars or street fights,” a federal agent involved in the case told reporters outside court. “This case revealed something far darker — an organized system of violence where murder is built into the structure of advancement.”
Federal Authorities Praise the Verdict
The verdict drew swift praise from federal and local officials who have been working to dismantle MS-13’s regional and national footprint.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli, a central figure in the prosecution, expressed gratitude to the jury and law enforcement partners.
“We thank the jury for returning decisive verdicts against these MS-13 criminals who engaged in horrific acts of violence and murder,” Essayli said. “Their removal from our streets marks an important step in our ongoing effort to protect the public. MS-13 is a brutal, violent organization that has no place in the United States. We will continue working relentlessly until its presence is eliminated.”
U.S. Attorney General Pamela Bondi echoed those remarks, tying the verdict to the federal government’s broader national security priorities.
“The horrific violence in this case highlights the urgency of destroying MS-13 and holding every member accountable,” Bondi said. “Under President Trump, MS-13 no longer operates with impunity. We will eradicate this foreign terrorist organization and secure justice for its victims.”
Bondi’s reference to MS-13 as a foreign terrorist organization reflects a policy line that federal authorities have emphasized repeatedly in recent years — that MS-13’s activities extend beyond crime, threatening public safety, border security, and national stability.
Inside the Gang’s Internal Motivations
One of the most striking revelations at trial was the highly structured nature of MS-13’s internal ranking system. Prosecutors described an environment where committing acts of extreme violence is not merely allowed but expected.
To advance within the gang, members must demonstrate unwavering loyalty and a willingness to kill. Even minor infractions — suspected betrayal, failure to obey orders, or association with rivals — can result in death sentences issued by gang superiors.
In this case, prosecutors said:
-
Some victims were believed to be members of the rival 18th Street gang, a group with which MS-13 has waged a long-standing war.
-
Others were targeted for infringing internal MS-13 rules, including disputes, perceived disrespect, or suspicions of cooperation with law enforcement.
The killings often served multiple purposes: eliminating threats, maintaining order through fear, and enabling members to attain higher status.
“Promotion” within MS-13 is earned not through seniority or negotiation but through violence. Killing is treated almost as a job requirement. For the defendants, according to prosecutors, the murders were stepping stones — proof of both loyalty and brutality.
The FBI’s Broader Crackdown: A Turning Point
The case fits into a much larger federal strategy that has gained momentum over the past two years. With Kash Patel and former Secret Service agent Dan Bongino taking leading roles in shaping FBI gang-intervention strategy, federal authorities have shifted from reactive investigations to proactive dismantling.
Instead of targeting isolated crimes, the FBI is tracking MS-13’s operational structure, its international communications, and the flow of members and resources from Central America into U.S. cities.
Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI Los Angeles Field Office, Akil Davis, described the verdict as validation of this approach:
“MS-13 has been designated a terrorist organization for a reason,” Davis stated. “The defendants carried out barbaric attacks simply to move up in the gang. This verdict reflects years of hard work by investigators and prosecutors. Removing these killers from Los Angeles communities brings justice to the victims and helps dismantle MS-13’s network.”
The FBI’s strategy focuses on:
-
Targeting leadership structures both in Central America and the United States
-
Monitoring communication pipelines between cliques
-
Using the RICO Act to dismantle the organization one clique at a time
-
Pressuring cooperating witnesses to provide insider details
-
Increasing patrol and surveillance in hotspot neighborhoods
Authorities say that while the Los Angeles cliques are significant, MS-13 operates across several states, and the current federal push aims to weaken the gang nationwide.
Local Law Enforcement: A Unified Front
Los Angeles Police Chief Jim McDonnell praised the cross-agency cooperation that led to the convictions, stressing that combating MS-13 requires a unified law enforcement approach.
“The brutality of these crimes reminds us why our shared mission is so vital,” McDonnell said. “These investigators, prosecutors, and law enforcement partners brought justice to the victims and sent an unmistakable message: this violence will not be tolerated in Los Angeles.”
The Los Angeles County Sheriff, Robert G. Luna, also issued a statement emphasizing community safety:
“These defendants terrorized neighborhoods and tore families apart to further their criminal network. Today’s verdict brings justice to those families and reinforces that gang violence and intimidation have no place in Los Angeles County.”
Local officials say the case underscores how deeply gang violence can infiltrate communities — from schools and parks to workplaces and family homes. Multiple neighborhoods in South Los Angeles, Mid-City, and the San Fernando Valley have struggled with MS-13 activity for decades.
A Pattern of Violence Rooted in Identity and Control
Throughout the trial, prosecutors highlighted MS-13’s origins to explain the defendants’ motivations. The gang’s roots trace back to Salvadoran immigrants fleeing civil war in the 1980s. Over time, MS-13 developed into an international network known for shocking displays of violence.
In the United States, the gang thrives in neighborhoods where poverty, instability, and lack of opportunity create fertile ground for recruitment. Many young members join seeking belonging or protection but are soon trapped in a system where leaving is often punishable by death.
For prosecutors, contextualizing the gang’s history was crucial to showing that:
-
Violence is woven into MS-13’s culture
-
Individual murders are connected to broader organizational goals
-
Advancement is tied to committing acts of increasing brutality
The defendants in this case, prosecutors argued, embraced these values, actively seeking opportunities to gain respect within the gang.
The Victims: Lost Lives Behind the Headlines
Although the trial centered heavily on gang structures, legal statutes, and law enforcement operations, the six victims remained at the heart of the case. Their identities were often shielded during proceedings to protect surviving family members, but prosecutors emphasized that each life was unique — and each death carried profound consequences.
Some victims were young men who had grown up in neighborhoods plagued by gang influence. Others were individuals simply suspected of associating with rivals or violating MS-13 directives.
One victim’s mother testified through tears, describing how her son had been trying to distance himself from gang life when he disappeared. Weeks later, his body was found in a remote forest area, bearing signs of torture and savage beating.
Another victim had been working two jobs to support his family when he was targeted due to a mistaken belief that he was aiding the rival 18th Street gang.
“These were human beings,” the prosecutor reminded the jury in closing arguments. “Brothers, sons, friends. Their lives mattered — and justice demands accountability.”
Community Impact: Fear, Silence, and the Path Forward
Neighborhoods targeted by MS-13 often experience cycles of fear and silence. Residents may hesitate to report crimes due to threats, intimidation, or previous retaliation against those who cooperate with police.
One local community advocate told reporters that MS-13’s presence “casts a shadow over everyday life,” affecting everything from children walking home from school to local businesses trying to operate safely.
Federal authorities believe the convictions will help break that cycle. Removing high-ranking members, they say, disrupts operational structures and reduces the gang’s ability to coordinate violence.
But community leaders stress the need for ongoing outreach: investment in youth programs, job training, mental health support, and violence prevention initiatives. Without long-term strategies, they warn, the void left by imprisoned gang members could be filled by younger recruits.
What Comes Next: Sentencing and Continued Crackdowns
The five convicted defendants now await sentencing, which is expected to occur in the coming months. Each faces the possibility of life in federal prison without parole.
In addition, federal authorities have signaled that this verdict is just one part of a broader, sustained effort:
-
Ongoing investigations target additional cliques in Los Angeles, New York, Maryland, Texas, and Virginia.
-
International cooperation with Central American governments has increased.
-
Federal funds have been allocated to expand task forces tracking gang movements.
“This is not the end,” a senior FBI official said after the verdict. “This is a turning point.”
The Justice Department is reportedly preparing additional RICO cases aimed at dismantling MS-13’s U.S. network, and officials believe the success of this trial will encourage more witnesses to come forward.
A Landmark Verdict — and a Warning
For law enforcement, Tuesday’s verdict stands as a landmark moment in the federal campaign against MS-13. For communities affected by gang violence, it offers a rare moment of relief — and a reminder that justice, though slow, remains possible.
But officials caution that while this case removed dangerous individuals from the streets, the larger fight is far from over.
MS-13 remains active in multiple states and continues to recruit vulnerable youth. Its international connections remain strong. And the ideology of violence that drives the gang continues to evolve.
Still, the conviction of five members for six murders sends a message that resonates far beyond Los Angeles:
No matter how deeply rooted or violently entrenched MS-13 may be, law enforcement will pursue its members relentlessly — and justice will prevail.
Adrian Hawthorne is a celebrated author and dedicated archivist who finds inspiration in the hidden stories of the past. Educated at Oxford, he now works at the National Archives, where preserving history fuels his evocative writing. Balancing archival precision with creative storytelling, Adrian founded the Hawthorne Institute of Literary Arts to mentor emerging writers and honor the timeless art of narrative.