The mountains surrounding Los Angeles hid a chilling secret – a reign of terror orchestrated by MS-13, culminating in a string of brutal murders designed to solidify the gang’s power. A Los Angeles County jury recently delivered a decisive verdict, finding five members guilty of participating in these horrific crimes.
Walter Chavez Larin, Roberto Alejandro Corado Ortiz, Edwin Martinez, Bryan Alexander Rosales Arias, and Erick Eduardo Rosales Arias faced justice for a conspiracy to violate the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act. The evidence presented during the nine-week trial painted a grim picture of calculated violence and ruthless ambition.
The killings weren’t random acts of aggression; they were meticulously planned executions targeting rivals from the 18th Street gang and even those within MS-13 who dared to break the gang’s strict code. Victims endured unimaginable suffering, often beaten, strangled, and ultimately discarded in the remote wilderness.
In June 2017, a man claiming leadership within MS-13 was lured into the Angeles National Forest, where he was subjected to a savage attack. Stabbed and hacked with relentless brutality, his assailants, including Chavez, even attempted to decapitate him before leaving his body to the elements.
Just months later, in October 2017, another life was extinguished through deception. Two teenage girls lured a suspected 18th Street member to his death, where he was kidnapped, brutally beaten with a baseball bat, and fatally stabbed with a hunting knife before his body was thrown over a cliff.
The violence continued into 2018. A victim, enticed with the promise of marijuana and beer near Malibu, was shot in the back of the head by Corado while standing at a scenic overlook. The gun was then passed among other MS-13 members, each taking a turn to fire upon the already fallen victim.
Martinez was convicted of three separate VICAR murders, including a man gunned down in December 2018 after being mistakenly identified as an 18th Street gang member. Another victim, an MS-13 associate struggling with addiction, was executed for violating the gang’s rules. Even a homeless man, bearing a tattoo associated with a rival gang, became a target.
The Angeles National Forest became a silent witness to these atrocities, a dumping ground for bodies and a stark reminder of the gang’s callous disregard for human life. Each murder was a calculated step in a ruthless climb for power and control.
The convictions represent a significant blow to MS-13’s operations in the region, a testament to the dedication of law enforcement and the courage of the jury. Sentencing is scheduled for July 2026, offering a measure of closure to the communities scarred by this wave of violence.
