MS-13 Los Angeles gang members allegedly used secluded mountain areas surrounding the city as brutal training grounds for new recruits between 2017 and 2019, prosecutors have unveiled chilling details. These remote locations, including parts of the San Gabriel and Santa Monica mountains, served as “killing grounds” where extreme violence was employed to foster respect and loyalty within the MS-13 Los Angeles gang. The notorious MS-13 Los Angeles gang’s operations in these areas are central to the ongoing legal proceedings.
The allegations, stemming from a federal racketeering case, describe a disturbing pattern of murders perpetrated by the “Fulton clique” of MS-13. Five alleged members of this subset of the MS-13 Los Angeles gang are currently on trial, facing multiple murder charges. Authorities contend that these killings were not only a means of advancement within the gang but also a requirement for initiation, particularly after an influx of members from Central America around 2016 introduced stricter, more violent gang recruitment tactics.
MS-13 Los Angeles: A Reign of Terror in Remote Landscapes
The remote locations chosen by the MS-13 Los Angeles gang provided a grim backdrop for their alleged crimes, offering isolation from witnesses and potential intervention. Prosecutors claim that victims were targeted for a range of perceived offenses, from minor infractions like disrespecting gang hand signs to more serious transgressions against the gang’s hierarchy. The sheer brutality associated with MS-13 gang violence in these locales is a key focus.
One particularly horrific account detailed by prosecutors involved a victim who allegedly suffered 107 stab wounds. Another victim was reportedly disemboweled. In one documented instance from March 2017, a rival gang member was abducted, taken to a remote area in the Angeles National Forest, and then attacked with a machete by six MS-13 members. The indictment alleges that the victim was dismembered, his heart was cut out, and his body parts were scattered into a canyon. Other victims included a homeless man targeted in an MS-13-controlled park, individuals perceived to be cooperating with law enforcement, and even a 17-year-old girl who was allegedly battered with a rock in the San Gabriel Mountains, showcasing the extreme nature of MS-13 gang violence.
MS-13: A Transnational Criminal Organization Rooted in Los Angeles
MS-13, also known as Mara Salvatrucha, has a long history, having been founded approximately 40 years ago in Los Angeles by Salvadoran immigrants. Over the decades, it has evolved from a local street gang into a vast international criminal enterprise with a presence across the United States, Canada, Mexico, and several Central American nations. The foundation of this transnational criminal organization lies firmly in MS-13 Los Angeles.
The gang’s brutal methods and its structure have been a significant concern for law enforcement. Federal authorities designate MS-13 as a transnational criminal organization due to its involvement in drug trafficking, human trafficking, extortion, robbery, murder, and other violent crimes. The influx of members from Central America, particularly after the late 1990s and early 2000s due to increased deportations, has been cited as a factor in the escalation of violence and the adoption of more extreme gang initiation and recruitment tactics within local cliques. These newer members often brought with them the “Salvadoran rules,” emphasizing extreme violence as a path to advancement and respect within the MS-13 Los Angeles gang.
The Legal Battle Unfolds Against MS-13 Los Angeles
The ongoing trial involves five alleged MS-13 members charged with multiple murders and racketeering offenses. Federal prosecutors, including Deputy District Attorney Eric Siddall, are presenting evidence to the jury to substantiate these grave allegations, particularly concerning the brutal murders attributed to the MS-13 Los Angeles clique. The investigation and subsequent indictments, such as a 2019 federal grand jury indictment of 22 alleged MS-13 members, highlight the collaborative efforts between federal and local law enforcement agencies, including the FBI and the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office, in combating the gang’s pervasive violence and organized crime activities.
The prosecution aims to demonstrate how MS-13’s violent operations, including the use of remote areas for its most heinous acts like brutal murders, have terrorized communities and posed a significant threat to public safety in Los Angeles and beyond. This news from Los Angeles serves as a stark reminder of the enduring challenges posed by organized transnational criminal groups like MS-13 Los Angeles.
