Two members of the MS-13 street gang in Massachusetts pleaded guilty to RICO conspiracy violations in a Boston Federal Court. The case stems from the 2018 murder of a teenage boy. Each of the defendants admitted to planning and participating in a pattern of illicit activities designed to further the enterprise affairs of their gang.
The violent crimes admitted to by the duo included the murder of a 17-year-old boy by stabbing. The body of the victim was found in a wooded area. Prosecutors say the perpetrators lured the victim into the wooded area with the intent to kill him because he was not “loyal” to the gang. The three men were all members of the “Sykos Locos Salvatrucha” subset of the MS-13 gang that operated in various parts of Massachusetts.
RICO conspiracy cases that involve murder can result in life imprisonment along with a $250,000 fine. An order for restitution can also apply to the convicted person.
Court documents describe MS-13 as a transnational gang that operates in many parts of the United States. The gang is known for its violent behavior toward members of rival gangs, individuals suspected of cooperating with law enforcement and other people who interfere with its operations. The number of MS-13 gang members convicted under RICO conspiracy laws in Massachusetts and the rest of America has increased steadily over the last few years.
A person accused of murder faces the risk of losing their entire life to the criminal justice system. The stakes in these types of cases are too high to risk a court battle without legal counsel. Individuals charged with murder may benefit from securing the services of an experienced criminal attorney sooner rather than later.
