MS-13 gang members brutally executed two of their own on Long Island, strangling, stabbing, and drowning victims for perceived disloyalty to the violent transnational organization that continues to terrorize American communities despite law enforcement crackdowns.
Key Takeaways
- Five MS-13 gang members have been charged with murdering Yoneli Ramos-Moreno for associating with rival Latin Kings gang members, and Carlos Lopez-Lopez for suspected cooperation with authorities.
- The gang members employed horrific methods, including beating, strangling, stabbing, and drowning their victims in a display of MS-13’s signature brutality.
- The indictments are part of a larger federal operation targeting MS-13 on Long Island, with over 120 members arrested and convicted in the past decade.
- All five suspects are in federal custody without bail and face charges for both murder and drug trafficking.
- Federal prosecutors emphasize their commitment to eradicating MS-13 from Long Island communities in response to escalating violence.
Brutal Gang Executions Highlight MS-13 Terror on Long Island
Federal prosecutors have revealed disturbing details about two MS-13 gang-related murders on Long Island, showcasing the organization’s ruthless approach to perceived disloyalty. Five MS-13 members are now facing serious charges for the murders of Yoneli Ramos-Moreno in 2023 and Carlos Lopez-Lopez. The gang targeted Ramos-Moreno after discovering he had been friendly with members of the rival Latin Kings gang, which MS-13 considered an unforgivable betrayal of their organization’s principles. The subsequent murder of Lopez-Lopez occurred after he participated in Ramos-Moreno’s killing, but later fell under suspicion of cooperating with federal authorities.
“The legal terms in the indictment cannot adequately describe the sheer savagery with which the defendants, in service to the MS-13 gang, beat, strangled and murdered Ramos-Moreno and plotted to murder Lopez-Lopes,” said Joseph Nocella, U.S. Attorney for New York’s Eastern District.
According to court documents, the murders demonstrated extreme brutality characteristic of MS-13 operations. Ramos-Moreno was lured to Kings Park in 2023, where gang members strangled, stabbed, and drowned him. Lopez-Lopez met a similar fate after gang leaders suspected he might be providing information to law enforcement. The five defendants belong to MS-13’s Hollywood and Carlington cliques operating throughout Long Island, groups known for enforcing loyalty through violence and intimidation.
Extensive Federal Crackdown on MS-13 Activities
The charges against these five gang members represent just one component of a much larger federal operation targeting MS-13 across Long Island. Twenty-five MS-13 gang members and associates were recently charged in a comprehensive 70-count indictment in the Eastern District of New York. The charges encompass murder, assault, witness tampering, extortion, narcotics trafficking, firearms offenses, and obstruction of justice. This coordinated law enforcement effort spans three New York counties and has already resulted in significant successes against the organization.
“Removing alleged gang members from the streets will ensure that they are no longer in a position to wreak havoc in our neighborhoods and threaten the public’s safety,” said James T. Hayes, Jr., special agent in charge of ICE HSI in New York.
Federal authorities report that over 120 MS-13 members have been arrested and convicted in this district alone during the past decade. The investigation involves collaboration among multiple agencies, including ICE, the FBI, and local police departments. Defendants face severe penalties, including potential life imprisonment or the death penalty for those charged with murder. The five gang members specifically linked to the Ramos-Moreno and Lopez-Lopez murders are currently being held in federal custody without bail.
Transnational Threat to American Communities
MS-13 represents a significant threat to American communities, with deep international connections to Central America. The organization has established a reputation for extreme violence and rigid internal discipline that punishes any perceived disloyalty with death. The gang’s presence on Long Island has created zones of fear in numerous neighborhoods, with innocent civilians often caught in the crossfire of their territorial disputes and criminal enterprises. Beyond the murders, the five defendants are also accused of significant drug trafficking operations that fund their violent activities.
“The charges in the indictment demonstrate my office and our law enforcement partners’ resolve to hold vicious transnational organized crime groups like MS-13 accountable for their crimes and continue the mission to eradicate them from Long Island,” said Joseph Nocella, U.S. Attorney for New York’s Eastern District.
Federal authorities continue to emphasize their commitment to dismantling MS-13’s operations on Long Island. The organization’s international connections and sophisticated structure make it particularly challenging to eradicate, but law enforcement remains determined to pursue all members responsible for violence against American communities. The ongoing investigation is expected to result in additional arrests and charges as more evidence of criminal activity is uncovered throughout the region.
