Three MS-13 Gang Members Convicted in Shocking Violent Crimes
A Maryland federal jury has delivered a decisive blow to the ruthless gang known as MS-13, convicting three violent members of this notorious transnational criminal organization. This verdict is a notable achievement in the continuous fight against gang-related crime in the area, as highlighted by U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, Kelly O. Hayes.
Convicted are: 26-year-old Wilson Arturo Constanza-Galdomez from El Salvador, and two 24-year-olds from Honduras, Edis Omar Valenzuela-Rodriguez and Jonathan Pesquera-Puerto. They were found guilty of dynamic racketeering conspiracies, with Constanza-Galdomez and Valenzuela-Rodriguez also convicted of double murder in the context of their gang involvement. All three are now facing mandatory life sentences behind bars.
The evidence laid out during the trial underscored their affiliation with MS-13, which dominates in Baltimore City and its surroundings, orchestrating a loathsome culture that demands violent sacrifices for rank advancement within the gang. Known for their severe code, gang members often target rivals, referred to disrespectfully as “chavalas.”
“The actions of the MS-13 gang reflect a heartless disregard for human life,” emphasized U.S. Attorney Hayes. “The horrific commitment these defendants showed by carrying out cruel attacks and the brutal killing of a young girl is horrifying. We stand firm alongside our law enforcement allies to relentlessly pursue and prosecute individuals responsible for such crimes.”
These convictions stem from appalling incidents that occurred from June 2019 to at least October 2021. Among the unsettling crimes highlighted in court were the murders of two young women.
Notably, on May 29, 2020, the defendants, alongside fellow MS-13 members, deceived 16-year-old Gabriela Gonzalez-Ardon into believing she was in a safe spot near Loch Raven Reservoir in Cockeysville, only to then stab her viciously with a machete and knives upon thinking she was affiliated with an opposing gang. They reported their horrific act to MS-13 leaders in a bid to gain street cred.
A mere week later, on June 5, 2020, the group was involved in the brutal slaying of Michelle Tenezaca close to the CSX Bayview Train Yard in Baltimore. Labeling her a suspected informant, they stabbed her an astonishing 143 times—again, relaying this gruesome act to their superiors for recognition within the gang.
Aside from these murders, they were also implicated in an attempted murder that took place on April 25, 2020, and a horrendous series of attacks on June 6, 2020, which left two victims in severely critical conditions. Thankfully, both survivors managed to pull through after encountering life-threatening situations near a library and a train yard in Baltimore and Dundalk.
Matthew R. Galeotti, Acting Assistant Attorney General of the Justice Department, praised the jury’s decision, underscoring the Department’s unwavering determination to hold MS-13 members accountable to the fullest legal extent. “Today’s ruling is a testament to our commitment to dismantling this transnational gang while delivering justice to their victims and ensuring safer communities for all,” he remarked.
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