A jury in Las Vegas has convicted three men alleged to be members of the violent MS-13 gang on multiple charges, including murder and racketeering, in a case involving nine killings that occurred between 2017 and 2018. The convictions follow a 43-day trial.
Jose Luis Reynaldo Reyes-Castillo, David Arturo Perez-Manchame, and Joel Vargas-Escobar face a mandatory minimum sentence of life in prison without parole. A fourth individual, Alexander De Jesus Figueroa-Torres, had previously agreed to a plea deal before the trial began.
Prosecutors stated that the defendants were part of an MS-13 clique operating in Las Vegas and were responsible for brutal killings and other crimes. The prosecution presented evidence of 11 deaths, detailing extensive injuries, including gunshot and stab wounds, across multiple victims. Assistant U.S. Attorney Melanee Smith told jurors that the violence was committed to enhance the defendants' standing within the gang, with victims often mistakenly identified as members of the rival 18th Street gang.
The jury found Reyes-Castillo guilty of eight counts of murder in aid of racketeering, five counts of kidnapping in aid of racketeering, one count of attempted murder in aid of racketeering, and multiple firearms-related charges. Perez-Manchame was convicted of two counts of murder and two counts of kidnappings in aid of racketeering. Vargas-Escobar was convicted of one count of murder and one count of causing death through the use of a firearm. The jury did not return guilty verdicts on two other killings that were part of the indictment.
Attorneys for the defendants contested the prosecution's claims. Defense lawyers argued that cooperating witnesses, who pleaded guilty and agreed to testify in exchange for reduced sentences, were not credible and were attempting to shift blame. Arguments included claims that one defendant had left the gang prior to certain events and that mere association did not constitute evidence of guilt. One attorney also stated there was no physical evidence linking his client to the crimes.
The original indictment in this case, which included charges against 55 individuals, was filed in 2021. MS-13, formed by Salvadoran immigrants in Los Angeles in the mid-1980s, has since expanded its presence across the U.S. and Central America. FBI Director Kash Patel stated that the FBI prioritizes dismantling violent gangs, and that the conviction demonstrates that such groups can no longer operate with impunity. The sentencing hearing is scheduled for November 10.