Eight MS-13 Members Plead Guilty to Racketeering Crimes in Texas

Eight members of the MS-13 gang have pleaded guilty in Houston, Texas, United States, to participating in a violent racketeering conspiracy that included multiple murders, extortion, drug trafficking, robbery, and witness tampering. The Justice Department confirmed the guilty pleas in early September 2025.

Four members — Walter Antonio Chicas-Garcia, Wilson Jose Ventura-Mejia, Miguel Angel Aguilar-Ochoa, and Marlon Miranda-Moran — entered their plea deals on Tuesday. Nearly a month earlier, on August 11, Luis Ernesto Carbajal-Peraza, Edgardo Martinez-Rodriguez, Carlos Alexi Garcia-Gongora, and Wilman Rivas-Guido had admitted their own roles in the conspiracy.

According to the Justice Department, the crimes were carried out between 2017 and 2018. The gang members followed orders from senior MS-13 leaders in El Salvador. Prosecutors stated that murders were committed to maintain or increase standing within the organization. Victims were targeted because they were believed to belong to rival gangs, cooperate with law enforcement, or act against MS-13’s interests.

Authorities revealed the brutality of the crimes. Murders were committed using machetes, a baseball bat, and by strangulation. In some cases, photographs of the victims’ bodies were sent to senior members in El Salvador. The Justice Department reported that the bodies were sometimes further mutilated before the photos were transmitted.

U.S. Attorney Nicholas Ganjei issued a statement on September 8, 2025, stressing the public safety threat posed by MS-13 and similar groups. He emphasized that the guilty pleas reflect the seriousness of the crimes and the ongoing efforts to dismantle such organizations.

The eight guilty pleas mark a significant step in prosecuting organized criminal activity linked to international gang networks. The Justice Department has stated its commitment to ensuring that violent organizations like MS-13 are held accountable for their actions.