In a landmark verdict that reverberated through the justice system, a Los Angeles federal jury has found five members of the notorious MS-13 gang guilty of a sweeping racketeering conspiracy, including a series of brutal murders, extortion, and drug trafficking. The convictions, announced November 10, 2025, mark one of the most significant victories against the MS-13 Los Angeles network in decades, signaling a decisive blow against the transnational criminal organization’s violent operations in the region. This federal jury verdict against MS-13 Los Angeles members concludes a significant chapter in law enforcement’s fight against organized crime.
The Verdict and the MS-13 Los Angeles Crimes
Following a grueling nine-week trial, the jury returned guilty verdicts against Walter Chavez-Larin, Edwin Martinez, Roberto Corado Ortiz, Bryan Rosales Arias, and Erick Rosales Arias. These individuals, affiliated with MS-13 cliques including the Fulton and Directos Locos, were found guilty of conspiracy to violate the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act. The racketeering acts encompass a horrific string of six murders committed between 2017 and 2019, alongside charges of extortion and narcotics trafficking. Each of the defendants faces a mandatory sentence of life in federal prison, with sentencing hearings scheduled for July 2026, a direct consequence of their MS-13 Los Angeles ties.
A Reign of Terror in Los Angeles by MS-13
The evidence presented during the trial painted a grim picture of the gang’s violent activities, which terrorized communities across Los Angeles County. Prosecutors detailed how the murders were carried out to advance the members’ standing within the gang, often involving extreme violence and ritualistic elements. Victims were targeted for various reasons, including being perceived as members of rival gangs like the 18th Street gang, or for violating MS-13’s strict rules. The brutal killings took place in diverse and remote locations, including the rugged terrain of the Angeles National Forest, the San Fernando Valley, areas near Malibu, Santa Clarita Valley, and Van Nuys, all under the shadow of the MS-13 Los Angeles operations.
Methods employed by the gang members were particularly savage. Victims were variously strangled, shot, stabbed with knives or machetes, and beaten with weapons like baseball bats. In some of the most gruesome incidents, bodies were dismembered and discarded in canyons or off hillsides in the Angeles National Forest. One particularly chilling account detailed how a rival gang member was abducted, choked, and driven to a remote forest location where he was hacked to death with a machete, his heart allegedly carved out before his remains were thrown into a canyon. Another case involved the murder of a homeless man for a tattoo believed to be linked to a rival gang, a stark example of the violent crime associated with MS-13 Los Angeles.
Dismantling the Racketeering Enterprise of MS-13 Los Angeles
The RICO charges underscored the organized nature of MS-13’s criminal enterprise. Beyond murder, the gang engaged in extortion and drug trafficking to fund its operations and maintain its power. The prosecution highlighted how the gang’s internal rules dictated that members must use murder and extreme violence to rise through the ranks, turning their cliques into instruments of terror and illicit commerce. This coordinated effort by law enforcement aimed not just to prosecute individual crimes but to dismantle the entire criminal organization operating in the Los Angeles area, a significant aspect of the MS-13 Los Angeles investigation.
A Collaborative Law Enforcement Effort Against MS-13 Los Angeles
This conviction is the culmination of extensive collaboration between federal and local law enforcement agencies. Key investigative roles were played by the FBI, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, and the Los Angeles Police Department, working in concert with the U.S. Attorney’s Office and the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office. Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan J. Hochman stated that these convictions represent a significant victory and sent a clear message: “We will not tolerate or be intimidated by gangs that try to hold our communities hostage to violence and corruption.” Deputy District Attorney Eric Siddall served as a Special Assistant U.S. Attorney in the case, underscoring the integrated approach taken to combatting the MS-13 Los Angeles presence.
The Path Forward in Combating MS-13 Los Angeles
These convictions serve as a stark reminder of the persistent threat posed by transnational criminal gangs like MS-13. The successful prosecution of this case and the forthcoming life sentences for the convicted members are expected to provide a measure of justice for the victims and their families, while significantly weakening the gang’s operational capacity within Los Angeles. This featured News report highlights the ongoing commitment of law enforcement to combating violent crime and ensuring community safety, particularly in light of the MS-13 Los Angeles racketeering conspiracy. As sentencing approaches, the impact of this verdict is expected to be felt keenly by the criminal elements that seek to sow fear and chaos in Los Angeles, especially those associated with MS-13 Los Angeles.
