FBI, DOJ Announce Major Arrest of MS-13 Gang Members in LA

A Los Angeles jury has delivered sweeping convictions against five members of the notoriously violent MS-13 gang, finding them responsible for six gruesome murders committed to boost their criminal standing inside the transnational organization, the Department of Justice announced.

Federal prosecutors detailed a horrific pattern of brutality: victims were strangled, shot, stabbed with knives or a machete, beaten with a baseball bat, and in some cases dumped over cliffs deep in the Angeles National Forest — a reminder of the cartel-style violence MS-13 has long exported into American communities.

Following a nine-week trial, jurors convicted Walter Chavez Larin, 26, Roberto Alejandro Corado Ortiz, 30, and Edwin Martinez, 28, of conspiracy to violate the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act. Chavez and Corado were found guilty on two counts each of violent crimes in aid of racketeering (VICAR) murder, while Martinez was convicted on three counts. Two brothers — Bryan Alexander Rosales Arias, 28, and Erick Eduardo Rosales Arias, 27 — were also convicted of VICAR murder.

The convictions come as federal authorities escalate a no-tolerance campaign against gang violence under the FBI leadership team of Kash Patel and Dan Bongino, both of whom have prioritized dismantling foreign-based criminal networks operating on U.S. soil.

Assistant United States Attorney Bill Essayli praised the verdicts. “We thank the jury for returning swift guilty verdicts against these MS-13 criminals who engaged in horrific acts of violence and murder,” he said. “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.”

Attorney General Pamela Bondi echoed that message, emphasizing that the Trump administration has fundamentally shifted federal posture toward MS-13.

“The horrific violence in this case underscores the urgency of destroying MS-13 and putting its depraved members behind bars,” Bondi said. “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.”

According to trial evidence, the defendants targeted rivals — including individuals believed to be connected to the 18th Street gang — and even fellow MS-13 members accused of violating internal rules. Prosecutors laid out a rigid hierarchy in which gang members were expected to commit murder or extreme violence to climb the ranks.

“This case is a reminder that MS-13 has been designated as a foreign terrorist organization,” said Akil Davis, Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI’s Los Angeles Field Office. “The defendants in this case carried out barbaric attacks on their victims to simply enhance their ranking within the gang.”

Local law enforcement leaders also highlighted the significance of the convictions.

“The brutality of these crimes is a stark reminder of the importance of our shared mission: to protect the people of Los Angeles from those who seek to do harm,” said LAPD Chief Jim McDonnell. He praised the joint effort of investigators and prosecutors, emphasizing that their work “sent a clear message — we will not tolerate this kind of violence in our city.”

Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert G. Luna agreed, saying the verdicts “send a powerful message that criminal gang violence and intimidation have no place in Los Angeles County.”

“These violent individuals terrorized our communities and tore families apart to further their criminal network,” Luna added. “Through the tireless efforts of our local and federal partners, we have brought justice to the victims’ families and held these individuals accountable for their brutal crimes.”

With the convictions secured, federal officials say they remain committed to using every available tool to dismantle MS-13’s presence in the United States — a central law-and-order priority of President Donald J. Trump’s second-term agenda.