Los Angeles, CA — Five members of the violent MS-13 gang have been found guilty of a series of gruesome murders carried out across the Los Angeles region to advance their status within the organization. Victims were beaten, strangled, stabbed, and in some cases, thrown off cliffs in remote mountain areas, according to prosecutors.
A Los Angeles County jury delivered the verdicts on Tuesday following a nine-week federal trial, finding all five defendants guilty of crimes linked to the gang’s brutal hierarchy.
Convictions and Charges
The U.S. Department of Justice confirmed that Walter Chavez Larin (26), Roberto Alejandro Corado Ortiz (30), and Edwin Martinez (28) were each convicted of conspiracy to violate the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act.
In addition:
- Chavez and Corado were found guilty of two counts of violent crimes in aid of racketeering (VICAR) murder.
- Martinez was found guilty of three counts of VICAR murder.
- Bryan Alexander Rosales Arias (28) and his brother, Erick Eduardo Rosales Arias (27), were each found guilty of one count of VICAR murder.
“We thank the jury for returning swift guilty verdicts against these MS-13 criminals who engaged in horrific acts of violence and murder,” said First Assistant United States Attorney Bill Essayli. “MS-13 is a violent, brutal gang that must be eliminated from the United States, and we will not stop until we succeed in our mission.”
Grisly Murders Linked to the Case
According to FOX News, the defendants were responsible for at least six murders between 2017 and 2019. The killings targeted both rival 18th Street gang members and MS-13 associates who had broken gang rules.
Prosecutors detailed horrifying scenes:
- June 2017: A victim claiming to be an MS-13 leader was taken into the Angeles National Forest and stabbed and hacked to death by Chavez and others. Assailants attempted to decapitate him before leaving the body behind.
- October 2017: Another victim, rumored to be tied to the 18th Street gang, was lured by two teenage girls, then kidnapped, strangled, beaten with a baseball bat, and stabbed before being thrown off a cliff. Corado and Bryan Rosales were among those involved.
- July 2018: A man was lured to the Malibu hills under the pretense of smoking marijuana. Corado shot him in the back of the head, then passed the gun to Erick Rosales and others, who took turns firing before throwing the body down a hill.
Prosecutors said Edwin Martinez committed three additional murders in 2018 and 2019, including:
- A man mistaken for an 18th Street member and shot after returning from the gym.
- An MS-13 associate addicted to methamphetamine, violating gang rules, who was shot on January 13, 2019.
- A homeless man killed the following day for having a tattoo believed to reference the rival gang.
Federal Response and Condemnation
Federal officials praised the verdict, describing the case as a major blow against the international criminal network.
“This violence underscores the urgency of destroying MS-13 and putting its depraved members behind bars,” said U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi.
“Under President Trump, MS-13 can no longer unleash terror on the American people with impunity. We will eradicate this foreign terrorist organization and secure justice for its victims.”
Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan J. Hochman also lauded the outcome, noting the gang’s devastating impact on local neighborhoods.
“MS-13 has inflicted unimaginable suffering on victims and their families in our communities,” Hochman said.
Sentencing Scheduled for 2026
A sentencing hearing for all five convicted men is set for July 2026. Each faces life in federal prison without parole, marking one of the most significant MS-13 prosecutions in California’s history.
What are your thoughts on this major verdict and the efforts to dismantle violent gangs across the U.S.? Share your views in the comments below.
