Verdict in Baltimore MS-13 Case: Three Convicted of Murders

Three MS-13 gang members were convicted for violent crimes in a Baltimore federal court. The jury found them guilty of murder and racketeering charges this week. The verdict concludes a major case for local and federal law enforcement.

The convictions are tied to two brutal murders and multiple attempted murders. According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the gang members carried out the violence to gain status within the transnational criminal organization.

Details of the Violent Racketeering Conspiracy

The defendants are Wilson Arturo Constanza-Galdomez, Edis Omar Valenzuela-Rodriguez, and Jonathan Pesquera-Puerto. Evidence presented at trial showed their direct involvement in a series of attacks between 2019 and 2021. The gang specifically targeted individuals they perceived as rivals or threats.

One murder involved a 16-year-old girl, Gabriela Gonzalez-Ardon. She was lured to a reservoir in Cockeysville, Maryland, in May 2020. The group then attacked her with a machete, killing her on suspicions of associating with a rival gang.

Just days later, the gang killed Michelle Tenezaca. They believed she had cooperated with law enforcement. She was stabbed 143 times near a Baltimore train yard.

A Broader Crackdown on Transnational Crime

This case is part of a sustained effort to dismantle MS-13’s operations in Maryland. Prosecutors emphasized the gang’s extreme violence and disregard for human life. The successful convictions signal a significant win for the Department of Justice’s organized crime task force.

The impact is felt deeply within the local communities targeted by the gang’s violence. Officials hope the verdict brings a measure of justice to the victims’ families. It also serves as a warning to other gang members operating in the region.

The MS-13 gang convictions underscore the continued threat posed by transnational criminal enterprises and the legal system’s commitment to confronting them. Sentencing is scheduled for a later date, where each defendant faces a mandatory life sentence.

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Q1: What specific crimes were the MS-13 members convicted of?

The three men were convicted of conspiracy to participate in a racketeering enterprise and murder in aid of racketeering. These federal charges relate directly to their activities as part of the MS-13 criminal organization.

Q2: What was the motive behind the murders?

Prosecutors stated the murders were committed to maintain and increase the defendants’ status within MS-13. The victims were targeted based on gang suspicions of rival affiliations or cooperation with police.

Q3: How many victims were involved in this case?

The convictions are linked to the murders of two individuals and multiple attempted murders. Several other victims survived brutal machete and knife attacks during the same period.

Q4: What sentences do the convicted men now face?

All three defendants face a mandatory minimum sentence of life in prison. The final sentencing will be determined by a federal judge at a later hearing.

Q5: Is MS-13 still active in the Baltimore area?

Law enforcement agencies continue to investigate and prosecute MS-13 activity. This case is part of an ongoing, broader effort to disrupt the gang’s networks in Maryland and across the United States.

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Trusted Sources: U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Maryland, U.S. Department of Justice, Associated Press, Reuters.