Federal court in Boston this week handed down a prison sentence to the leader of MS-13’s East Boston Loco Salvatrucha clique. The defendant faced charges including RICO conspiracy tied to an aggravated assault, a conspiracy charge involving heroin and cocaine distribution, and illegal firearm possession related to drug trafficking.
U.S. District Court Judge F. Dennis Saylor IV imposed the penalty on Santos Portillo Andrade, known as “Flaco,” who is 33, a Salvadoran national residing in Revere. The judge sentenced him to 10 years in prison and four years of supervised release, with deportation proceedings to follow once he completes his sentence. During June 2017, Portillo entered a guilty plea to conspiracy to conduct enterprise affairs through a pattern of racketeering activity, more commonly referred to as RICO conspiracy. He further admitted his involvement in an aggravated assault targeting someone he thought belonged to a competing gang; this incident occurred in Malden during December 2008. His guilty pleas also covered conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 100 grams or more of heroin and 500 grams or more of cocaine and possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking.
A three-year investigation preceded Portillo’s case. The January 2016 superseding indictment named 61 defendants total and focused on alleged criminal conduct by MS-13 leaders, members, and associates operating in Massachusetts. Among those convicted, Portillo represents the 19th defendant to be sentenced in the case. He led the East Boston Loco Salvatrucha clique of MS-13.
MS-13 operates as a violent transnational criminal organization with branches referred to as “cliques” spread throughout the United States, Massachusetts included, according to court documents. To advance within the ranks and maintain their standing in the organization, MS-13 members must engage in violent acts against rival gang members. The group particularly demands that members attack and kill members of competing gangs at every opportunity.