Alexi Saenz, a top MS-13 gang leader who was in charge of turf in Long Island, recently entered into a guilty plea after admitting his participation in at least eight murders. Two of these murders made national headlines due to the young age of the victims and the context of the murders, which were deemed revenge for a high school fight.
The 29-year-old admitted in Long Island Federal Court that he personally authorized the murders of 16-year-old Kayla Cuevas and 15-year-old Nisa Mickens after the two teen girls got into an altercation with minor MS-13 members who attended the same high school.
According to court records, Saenz was in charge of the area that four juvenile gang members were riding around in on September 13, 2016. The minors, including Enrique “Turkey” Portillo and Selving Chavez, saw the young girls walking down the road and remembered the fight. They called Saenz and his brother, who both authorized the kids to kill the teens using baseball bats and a machete.
This extremely violent criminal act wasn’t the only incident that Saenz is being held responsible for. He was also involved in at least two fatal shootings, six other machete murders, and several attempted murders between 2016 and 2017. This extreme string of violence was all committed within one year.
His complete disregard for human life made former U.S. Attorney General William Barr request the death penalty in the gang member’s case, but the current Attorney General Merrick Garland has since withdrawn that authorization.
Gang-Related Activity in New York
Unfortunately, gang-related activity in New York has been on the rise in recent years. Even worse, it seems that many of these coordinated criminal organizations are specifically targeting teenagers in New York City to join in their schemes.
Since teenagers are likely to experience interpersonal conflict and rivalries in high school, gangs are capitalizing on that and encouraging young teens to team up with gangs to execute revenge in violent ways.
It’s important to understand that any gang-related activity in New York is considered a crime, and any crime you commit while participating in a gang will be elevated. That means you’ll face greater penalties simply because the crime was associated with gang activity. A criminal street gang is defined as any group of three or more persons that engages in criminal activity as one of its primary purposes and activities.
Murder is one of the most serious crimes you can commit in New York, and you can be charged with accessory to murder even if you’re not the one who struck the fatal blow in a gang attack. For instance, if you drove the getaway car or you provided the weapons, then you could also face time for your role in the crime.
If you think you’ve been involved in illegal gang activity and you need legal counsel, then our team is prepared to help you navigate the law. This is especially true if you’ve already been arrested and you’re facing charges. Schedule a free meeting with our lawyers now to discuss your situation in more detail with our team.
