On Friday, Sept. 30, Boston Federal Court witnessed the guilty plea of an MS-13 member in relation to a Chelsea stabbing that occurred in December 2015.
The defendant, Mauricio Sanchez, known as “Tigre,” 29, of Chelsea, entered his plea before U.S. District Court in Boston. His admission concerned conspiracy to conduct enterprise affairs through a pattern of racketeering activity, commonly referred to as racketeering conspiracy. U.S. District Court Judge Dennis Saylor IV set the sentencing date for Dec. 22, 2016.
Following three years of investigation work, Sanchez emerged as one of 61 individuals included in a January 2016 superseding indictment. This indictment focused on the criminal operations of alleged MS-13 leaders, members, and associates throughout Massachusetts. Court documents characterized MS-13 as a violent transnational criminal organization with branches or “cliques” that operate throughout the United States, including in the District of 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.
In court filings and at the Sept. 30 plea hearing, Sanchez was identified as a member of MS-13’s Eastside Loco Salvatrucha (ESLS) clique. As an ESLS member, Sanchez “jumped in” new members and paid dues to fund MS-13 activities in Massachusetts and in El Salvador. Through his plea agreement, Sanchez acknowledged participating with other MS-13 members in the stabbing of a gang rival, believed to be affiliated with 18th Street, near Bellingham Square in Chelsea on Dec. 27, 2015.
Under the applicable statute, sentencing may not exceed 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a fine of $250,000. Federal sentences typically fall below statutory maximums, with U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors guiding judicial determinations.
Sanchez represents the sixth defendant entering a guilty plea in this matter. The remaining defendants have pleaded guilty to drug trafficking and immigration offenses.