In a significant victory for justice, a federal jury in Los Angeles has convicted five members of the transnational criminal organization Mara Salvatrucha 13 (MS-13) of committing a string of six grisly murders between 2017 and 2019. These **MS-13 gang murders** highlight the group’s pervasive violence. The verdicts, delivered on November 10, 2025, followed a nine-week trial and highlighted the gang’s ruthless tactics, particularly its internal rules that mandate extreme violence for members seeking to advance their standing within the organization, contributing to the ongoing issue of MS-13 gang murders.
Guilty Verdicts Delivered in Landmark MS-13 Trial: Combating MS-13 Gang Murders
The jury found Walter Chavez Larin, 26, of Panorama City; Roberto Alejandro Corado Ortiz, 30, of Baldwin Park; and Edwin Martinez, 28, of Cypress Park, guilty of one count of conspiracy to violate the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act. Additionally, Chavez Larin and Corado Ortiz were convicted of two counts of violent crimes in aid of racketeering (VICAR) murder, while Martinez was found guilty of three counts of VICAR murder. Bryan Alexander Rosales Arias, 28, and his brother Erick Eduardo Rosales Arias, 27, both of South Los Angeles, were each convicted of one count of VICAR murder. Prosecutors stated that these convictions are part of a broader effort, having secured 25 MS-13 convictions in total in this case, with more trials scheduled for April 2026, further addressing MS-13 gang murders.
Brutal MS-13 Gang Murders and Gang Hierarchy Murders Motives
The six murders were characterized by extreme violence, with victims reportedly strangled, shot, stabbed with knives or machetes, and beaten with a baseball bat. In some instances, bodies were disposed of in remote areas, including the Angeles National Forest, with some victims’ remains found in areas scarred by the 2019 Tick Fire. The killings were not random acts but were allegedly carried out to gain status, respect, and rank within MS-13, often referred to as earning “points” or “chelas,” a common motive in gang hierarchy murders. This aligns with the “Salvadoran rules” reportedly brought by an influx of gang members from Central America around 2016, which required prospective members to commit murders to prove their loyalty and gain entry into the gang, contributing to the cycle of MS-13 gang murders.
Evidence presented in court detailed how the defendants, part of the Fulton clique of MS-13, implemented these violent mandates. One victim was stabbed 107 times, and another was disemboweled while reportedly still alive. The timeline of these horrific acts, a grim record of MS-13 gang murders, spanned from 2017 to 2019.
Targeting Victims and The Investigation into MS-13 Gang Murders
The victims in this case were often targeted because they were perceived members of rival gangs, such as the 18th Street Gang, or because they had violated MS-13 rules. This included instances of a victim being mistaken for a rival gang member, an MS-13 associate struggling with methamphetamine addiction (a violation of gang rules), or an individual sporting a tattoo believed to be associated with a rival gang. One victim had allegedly claimed a leadership role within MS-13 itself, a dangerous position in a gang known for gang hierarchy murders. These elements paint a chilling picture of the drivers behind these **MS-13 gang murders**.
The investigation was a collaborative effort involving the FBI, the Los Angeles Police Department, and the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. Assistant United States Attorneys Catharine A. Richmond, Sara B. Vargas, Benedetto L. Balding, and William Larsen, along with Special Assistant United States Attorney Eric W. Siddall, prosecuted the case. This successful prosecution sends a strong message against organized crime and the devastating impact of LA gang violence.
Implications for Justice and Community Safety in Combating MS-13 Gang Murders
United States Attorney General Pamela Bondi stated that the “horrific violence in this case underscores the urgency of destroying MS-13 and putting its depraved members behind bars.” Akil Davis, Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI’s Los Angeles Field Office, emphasized that the defendants “carried out barbaric attacks on their victims to simply enhance their ranking within the gang,” and expressed pride in the work leading to this verdict. The conviction represents a significant step in dismantling the operations of MS-13, a transnational criminal organization known for its involvement in extensive violent criminal activities and a significant contributor to violent crimes in aid of racketeering, including these brutal **MS-13 gang murders**.
Sentencing for the convicted MS-13 members is scheduled for July 2026. This outcome offers a measure of closure for the victims’ families and reinforces the ongoing commitment of law enforcement to combatting the persistent threat posed by transnational criminal gangs and ensuring justice for their victims across the nation. The news of these convictions serves as a stark reminder of the brutal reality of **MS-13 gang murders** and the dedication required to counter this pervasive form of LA gang violence.
