Eight MS-13 Members Plead Guilty to Racketeering, Murders in Houston

Eight MS-13 gang members residing illegally in Houston have pleaded guilty to a multi-year racketeering conspiracy involving multiple brutal murders, extortion, drug trafficking, and witness tampering. The defendants used machetes, baseball bats, strangulation, and other violent means to kill rivals, suspected informants, and opponents, with photos of the victims sent to MS-13 leaders in El Salvador for approval. Acting Assistant Attorney General Matthew R. Galeotti emphasized that these guilty pleas demonstrate the Justice Department's commitment to aggressively pursuing MS-13 members who terrorize communities. Sentences for the defendants range from 35 to 50 years, with sentencing scheduled later this year. This case is part of the Justice Department's Operation Take Back America initiative, a national effort targeting transnational criminal organizations, involving cooperation among the FBI, Homeland Security Investigations, and multiple Texas law enforcement agencies. The investigation highlighted the gang's use of extreme violence to maintain control and intimidate those cooperating with law enforcement.