Five MS-13 gang members executed two of their members on Long Island in a savage display of gang justice after suspecting them of betrayal and cooperation with law enforcement.
Key Takeaways
- Twenty-five MS-13 gang members face a 70-count federal indictment in New York’s Eastern District for murders, assaults, witness tampering, extortion, and drug trafficking
- Gang members murdered Yoneli Ramos-Moreno for associating with the rival Latin Kings gang and later killed Carlos Lopez-Lopez for suspected cooperation with authorities
- The murders were carried out with extreme brutality, including beating, strangling, and stabbing methods that prosecutors described as “sheer savagery.”
- Federal authorities have intensified efforts to dismantle MS-13 on Long Island, having arrested and convicted over 120 members in the past decade
- All five defendants are currently held without bail and face potential life imprisonment if convicted
Brutal Gang Justice: MS-13 Members Murder Their Own
Federal prosecutors have indicted five MS-13 gang members for the murders of two fellow gang members on Long Island in a chilling demonstration of the organization’s brutal enforcement of loyalty. The victims were executed for perceived infractions against gang rules – one for associating with a rival gang member and another for allegedly cooperating with law enforcement. The defendants, members of the MS-13 Hollywood and Carlington cliques, are accused of murdering Yoneli Ramos-Moreno in Kings Park in 2023 after discovering he had been friendly with members of the rival Latin Kings gang.
“The legal terms in the indictment cannot adequately describe the sheer savagery with which the defendants, in service to the MS-13 gang, beat, strangled and murdered Ramos-Moreno and plotted to murder Lopez-Lopes,” said Joseph Nocella, US Attorney for New York’s Eastern District.
The investigation revealed a disturbing pattern of betrayal within the gang itself. Carlos Lopez-Lopez, who had participated in Ramos-Moreno’s murder, later became a victim himself when other gang members suspected him of cooperating with federal authorities. This brutal cycle of violence exemplifies MS-13’s operational code, which treats any perceived disloyalty as a capital offense. According to court documents, the murders involved particularly savage methods, including beating, strangling, stabbing, and drowning.
Extensive Federal Crackdown on Transnational Gang
The indictments are part of a broader federal effort targeting MS-13 operations across Long Island. Twenty-five gang members and associates face a 70-count indictment in the Eastern District of New York, with charges ranging from murder and assault to witness tampering, extortion, narcotics trafficking, and obstruction of justice. The investigation spans three New York counties and has already resulted in significant progress in dismantling the gang’s local leadership structure and disrupting their criminal enterprises.
“This crackdown on transnational gangs demonstrates law enforcement’s commitment to stopping the escalating violence linked to gang activity,” said James T. Hayes, Jr.
The scope of MS-13’s activities on Long Island has alarmed authorities and residents alike. Federal prosecutors detailed how the gang has established a significant presence in the region, with roots stretching back to Central America. Their operations include not just violence against rival gangs but also significant drug trafficking operations that fund their criminal enterprises. The five defendants in the most recent case are currently held without bail in federal custody as they await trial.
A Decade-Long Battle Against MS-13
Federal authorities have made significant progress in their campaign against MS-13 over the past decade. According to court records, more than 120 MS-13 members have been arrested and convicted in this district alone during that period. The multi-agency effort involves collaboration between Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and local police departments working together to dismantle what has become one of the most dangerous transnational criminal organizations operating in the United States.
“The indictment of these five individuals connected to the brutal executions of two people — all because they were viewed as disloyal — is a clear demonstration of our commitment to hold these defendants accountable,” said Kevin Catalina, FBI Special Agent in Charge.
If convicted, the defendants face severe penalties, including potential life imprisonment. The cases highlight the ongoing challenge of combating MS-13’s culture of extreme violence and rigid enforcement of loyalty. Previous prosecutions have included charges for other execution-style murders, including the shocking killing of Vanessa Argueta and her 2-year-old son, demonstrating the gang’s willingness to target even the most vulnerable victims when enforcing their code of conduct.
