MS-13 OPERATIVE PLEADS GUILTY TO MULTI-STATE RACKETEERING MURDERS: FEDERAL CASE DETAILS CROSS-CLIQUE EXECUTIONS AND INTERNAL ENFORCEMENT

A member of MS-13 has admitted in federal court to direct involvement in multiple killings tied to gang advancement, territorial enforcement, and internal discipline across state lines.

Franklin Antonio Amaya Paredes, also known as “Mosca” and “Tony,” 28, entered guilty pleas in Boston to racketeering involving murder, conspiracy to participate in a racketeering enterprise involving murder, and two counts of murder in aid of racketeering. Proceedings are being handled by U.S. District Judge Indira Talwani, with sentencing scheduled for July 10, 2026. The case consolidates indictments from both Massachusetts and the Eastern District of Virginia, reflecting coordinated federal jurisdiction over multi-state organized crime activity.

Court records establish that Paredes operated within the Uniones Locos Salvatrucha (ULS) clique, an MS-13 faction with a defined presence in northern Virginia, southeastern Massachusetts, and extended areas tied to the Washington, D.C. region. The clique maintained ongoing narcotics distribution operations involving marijuana and cocaine, with proceeds directed toward sustaining U.S.-based operations, supporting leadership structures in El Salvador, and assisting incarcerated members.

On August 25, 2018, Paredes and other ULS members carried out a pre-authorized killing in New Bedford, Massachusetts. The victim, associated with a separate MS-13 clique, had been targeted following a determination by leadership in El Salvador that the individual had violated internal expectations. The victim was brought to a residence, assaulted, strangled, and dismembered. Remains were transported and buried in a wooded area. Recovery efforts have not located the remains. Participation in the killing resulted in rank advancement within the organization.

On June 23, 2019, ULS members initiated a second violent operation in Reston, Virginia, targeting individuals present in an area considered under clique influence. Armed with firearms and machetes, members executed an individual encountered at the location. Paredes remained in a support position in nearby vehicles, contributing to operational readiness and post-incident movement. Following the attack, involved members regrouped at a hotel location and reviewed the events, reflecting structured post-operation behavior.

On July 14, 2020, Paredes carried out a third killing in Dartmouth, Massachusetts. The victim, identified as his cousin, had reportedly failed to comply with MS-13 internal protocols, including failing to report to leadership after entering the region and failing to meet expectations tied to organizational expansion. The victim was invited under the pretense of a family gathering and was then shot and killed. Evidence further establishes that Paredes later attempted to coordinate the killing of a witness while in state custody.

MS-13 operates through a distributed clique structure, with each unit responsible for maintaining territory, enforcing discipline, and generating revenue through criminal activity. Acts of violence, including killings of perceived rivals, informants, and non-compliant members, are used to maintain internal control and elevate status within the organization. Leadership directives originating outside the United States continue to influence operational decisions within domestic cliques.

The charges in this case carry severe federal penalties. Racketeering and conspiracy involving murder allow for life imprisonment, while murder in aid of racketeering carries a mandatory life sentence. Additional penalties include supervised release and financial penalties under federal sentencing statutes.

The investigation and prosecution involved coordination between the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Homeland Security Investigations, state law enforcement agencies, and federal prosecutors across multiple districts, reflecting a multi-agency response to organized transnational criminal activity operating within U.S. borders.

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