MS-13 Gang Leaders Face Decades Behind Bars for Suburban NYC Murder Spree

Three high-ranking MS-13 gang leaders have pleaded guilty to orchestrating nine murders in New York City suburbs between 2016 and 2017 according to the Associated Press.

Kevin Torres, David Sosa-Guevara, and Victor Lopez-Morales admitted to using machetes and guns in brutal killings carried out across Long Island, with each defendant now facing decades in federal prison.

Why It Matters

MS-13, also known as "Mara Salvatrucha," is believed to have been founded as a neighborhood street gang in Los Angeles in the mid-1980s by people fleeing civil war and violence in El Salvador.

The guilty pleas come at a pivotal moment as President-elect Donald Trump's administration signals an extremely aggressive approach to gang-related crime and border security.

What To Know

Torres, 29, led the Sailors Locos Salvatruchas Westside clique on Long Island, while Sosa-Guevara, 33, commanded the Hollywood Locos Salvatruchas. Lopez-Morales, 36, served as a high-ranking member.

The murders occurred in secluded parks and wooded areas, with bodies concealed in shallow graves that remained undiscovered for months or years.

The victims included Samuel Martinez-Sandoval, Oscar Acosta, Kerin Pineda, Josue Amaya-Leonor, Marcus Bohannon, Javier Castillo, Carlos Ventura-Zelaya, Angel Soler, and David Rivera.

Under their plea agreements, Torres and Sosa-Guevara face up to 65 years in prison, while Lopez-Morales could serve up to 60 years.

What People Are Saying

Nassau County District Attorney Anne Donnelly emphasized the brutality of the crimes: "These defendants carried out vicious and senseless violence to instill fear and assert their dominance. Today's guilty pleas bring us one step closer to ridding this dangerous gang activity from Nassau County communities."

Tom Homan, Trump's incoming "border czar," took a confrontational stance on Donald Trump Jr.'s "Triggered" podcast in November, declaring "my gang's bigger than your gang, and we're going to take you out, too" about MS-13.

Homan has also promised "shock and awe" tactics, stating, "You're going to see us take this country back."

Cholo, shows off his gang tattoos and MS-13 hand signs on January 23, 2006 in Durham, North Carolina. Three high-ranking MS-13 leaders face decades in prison for NYC murder wave. (Photo by Robert Nickelsberg/Getty Images)

What Happens Next

The defendants await sentencing in federal court in Central Islip. Each defendant faces a minimum of 40 years behind bars.