MS-13 Member Pleads Guilty to RICO Conspiracy

BOSTON – An MS-13 member pleaded guilty on Friday, Oct. 20, 2017, in federal court in Boston to racketeering conspiracy.

Henry Santos Gomez, a/k/a “Renegado,” 32, a Salvadoran national who resided in Revere, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to conduct enterprise affairs through a pattern of racketeering activity, more commonly referred to as RICO conspiracy. U.S. District Court Judge F. Dennis Saylor IV scheduled sentencing for Jan. 16, 2018.

Santos Gomez was identified as a “homeboy,” or full member of MS-13’s Hollywood Loco Salvatrucha (HLS) clique. During the investigation, agents encountered Santos Gomez wearing MS-13 paraphernalia, secretly recorded conversations with Santos Gomez where he offered to provide protection to a cooperating witness who he believed was a drug dealer, and stopped Santos Gomez in the company of other MS-13 gang members.

After a three-year investigation, Santos Gomez was one of 61 persons named in a superseding indictment targeting the criminal activities of alleged leaders, members, and associates of MS-13 in Massachusetts. According to court documents, MS-13 was identified as a violent transnational criminal organization whose branches or “cliques” operate throughout the United States, including in Massachusetts.  MS-13 members are required to commit acts of violence to maintain membership and discipline within the group. Specifically, MS-13 members are required to attack and murder gang rivals whenever possible.

Santos Gomez is the 21^st defendant to plead guilty in this case.

According to the terms of the plea agreement, the parties agreed to recommend a sentence of six years in prison. Santos Gomez will be subject to deportation at the conclusion of his sentence.

Acting United States Attorney William D. Weinreb; Harold H. Shaw, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Field Division; Matthew Etre, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in Boston; Colonel Richard D. McKeon, Superintendent of the Massachusetts State Police; Commissioner Thomas Turco of the Massachusetts Department of Corrections; Essex County Sheriff Kevin F. Coppinger; Suffolk County Sheriff Steven W. Thompkins; Suffolk County District Attorney Daniel F. Conley; Middlesex County District Attorney Marian T. Ryan; Essex County District Attorney Jonathan Blodgett; Boston Police Commissioner William Evans; Chelsea Police Chief Brian A. Kyes; Everett Police Chief Steven A. Mazzie; Lynn Police Chief Michael Mageary; Revere Police Chief Joseph Cafarelli; and Somerville Police Chief David Fallon made the announcement.

The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. All remaining defendants are presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.