On September 7, 2015 the bloody body of Wilson Martinez was found by a passerby in the early morning hours near the water’s edge at Constitution Beach. The murder of the 15 year-old boy the day before high school was to start horrified the community. Four months later, just after the holidays on January 10, 2016, Christofer Perez de la Cruz, 16, was shot and stabbed to death on Falcon Street.
Martinez and Perez de la Cruz’s murders were followed by an additional three murders of teens in Eastie, between September 2015 and December 2016, sparking a law enforcement crackdown on the violent Ms-13 street gang.
Last week it was announced that nationwide leader of MS-13’s Molinos clique was indicted in connection with authorizing the murders of Wilson and Perez de la Cruz.
Oscar Duran, a/k/a Demente, 25, an El Salvadorian national residing in Eastie, allegedly authorized the murders of Martinez Perez de la Cruz and is charged in a fifth superseding indictment with conspiracy to conduct enterprise affairs through a pattern of racketeering activity, commonly referred to as RICO conspiracy, which specifically includes both murders.
According to Acting United States Attorney William Weinreb’s Office, Duran was previously charged in prior superseding indictments with RICO conspiracy.
The new indictment alleges that Duran was the leader of the Molinos Loco Salvatrucha (MLS) clique of MS-13 for the entire United States, as well as the Boston-area clique of MLS, and in those positions green-lighted the murders of Martinez and Perez de la Cruz.
This indictment is part of an ongoing investigation into the criminal activities of leaders, members and associates of MS-13.
Prior superseding indictments, as well as the new indictment, the United States Attorney’s Office allege that several other members of MS-13 were also responsible for the murder of Martinez. These include Carlos Melara, a/k/a Chuchito, a/k/a Criminal; Henry Josue Parada Martinez, a/k/a Street Danger; Edwin Gonzalez, a/k/a Sangriento; and a juvenile known to the Grand Jury.
Prior superseding indictments, and the new indictment also allege that Edwin Gonzalez, a/k/a Sangriento; Edwin Diaz, a/k/a Demente; Rigoberto Mejia, a/k/a Ninja; and Jairo Perez, a/k/a Seco were responsible for the murder of Perez de la Cruz:
According to the incitement, after a three-year investigation, Duran was one of 61 defendants named in prior superseding indictments targeting the criminal activities of alleged leaders, members, and associates of MS-13 in Boston and Massachusetts. According to court documents, MS-13 is a violent transnational criminal organization whose branches or “cliques” operate throughout the United States, including Massachusetts. MS-13 members are required to commit acts of violence against rival gang members to gain promotions and to maintain membership and discipline within the group. Specifically, MS-13 members are required to attack and murder rival gang members whenever possible. The fifth superseding indictment alleges that, from approximately 2014 to 2016, MS-13 cliques in Massachusetts were responsible for, among other things, six murders and approximately twenty attempted murders, as well as robberies and drug trafficking.
The charge of RICO conspiracy provides a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison or life, if the violation is based on racketeering activity for which the maximum penalty includes life imprisonment under state law (such as murder); three years of supervised release; and a fine of $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.