Feds sweep in on gang they blame for five murders in East Boston and Chelsea over past two years

Federal and local authorities are reporting the arrest of 56 MS-13 gang members, who they say recruited young teens at East Boston, Chelsea and Everett high schools and are to blame for five murders and 14 attempted murders of rival gang members since 2014 - including three teens murdered in East Boston over the past four months.

The US Attorney's office reports more than 400 law-enforcement agents fanned out across East Boston and towns north of Boston this morning.

During the course of this investigation, it is alleged that MS-13 actively recruited prospective members, known as “paros,” inside local high schools from communities with significant immigrant populations from Central America, including Chelsea High School, East Boston High School and Everett High School. Prospective members were typically 14 or 15 years old. Under the strict rules of MS-13, as communicated to the local “cliques” by the leaders of MS-13 in El Salvador, these prospective members must engage in significant violent criminal activity on behalf of the criminal organization, usually the killing of a rival gang member, in order to become a full-fledged member of MS-13, known as a “homeboy.”

The Globe reports that among the people arrested are suspects in the murders of three Central American teenagers in East Boston - Cristofer Perez de la Cruz, Irvin Depaz and Wilson Martinez.

One alleged gang member, Hector Enamorado of Chelsea, has been charged for a 2014 Chelsea murder. He is scheduled for trial on June 6 in Suffolk Superior Court, the Suffolk County District Attorney's office reports. Also behind bars and awaiting trial for a different 2014 murder is Hector Ramires, 22, of Chelsea.

The indictment further alleges that members of the MS-13 organization in Massachusetts sell cocaine, heroin, and marijuana, and commit robberies, in order to generate income to pay monthly dues to the incarcerated leadership of MS-13 in El Salvador. This money is allegedly used to pay for weapons, cell phones, shoes, food, and other supplies for MS-13 members in and out of jail in El Salvador.

Note: In the following list, "FNU" means "First Name Unknown," LNU means "Last Name Unknown."

The following defendants are charged with one count of racketeering influenced corrupt organization (RICO) conspiracy:

1. Oscar Noe Recinos-Garcia, a/k/a "Psycho," 22, of Somerville
2. Juilo Esau Avalos-Alvarado, a/k/a "Violento," 23, of Chelsea
3. German Hernandez-Escobar, a/k/a "Terible," 28, of Medford
4. Noe Salvador Perez-Vasquez, a/k/a "Crazy," 25, of Somerville
5. Santos Portillo-Andrade, a/k/a "Flaco," 31, of Everett
6. Herzzon Sandoval, a/k/a "Casper," 34, of Cambridge
7. Edwin Guzman, a/k/a "Playa," 30, of East Boston
8. Jose Hernandez-Miguel, a/k/a "Muerto," 27, of East Boston
9. Edgar Pleitez, a/k/a "Cadejo," 26, of East Boston
10. Christian Alvarado, a/k/a "Catracho," 26, of Everett
11. Cesar Martinez, a/k/a "Cheche," 35, of East Boston
13. Fnu Lnu, a/k/a "Caballo," of Everett
14. Erick Argueta Larios, a/k/a "Lobo," 31, of Cambridge
15. Luis Solis-Vasquez, a/k/a "Brujo," 25, of Everett
16. Jose Miguel-Hernandez, a/k/a "Smiley," a/k/a "Danger," 20, of Somerville (Deported)
17. Carlos Melara, a/k/a "Chuchito," a/k/a "Criminal,"19, of East Boston
18. Joel Martinez, a/k/a "Animal," 20, of East Boston
19. Jose Rene Andrade, a/k/a "Triste, a/k/a "Innocente," 24, of Somerville
20. Hector Enamorado, a/k/a "Vida Loca," 37, of Chelsea
21. Henry Santos-Gomez, a/k/a "Renegado," a/k/a "Pino," 30, of Revere
22. Rafael Leoner-Aguirre, a/k/a "Tremendo," 20, of Chelsea
23. Hector Ramires, a/k/a "Cuervo," 22, of Chelsea
24. Daniel Menjivar, a/k/a "Rocoa," a/k/a "Sitiko," 19, of Chelsea
25. Angel Pineda, a/k/a "Bravo," a/k/a "Jose Lopez," 20, of Chelsea
26. Jose Vasquez, a/k/a "Little Crazy," 22, of Somerville
27. David Lopez, a/k/a "Cilindro," a/k/a "Villano," of New Jersey
28. Bryan Galicia-Barillas, a/k/a "Chucky," 18, of Chelsea
29. Domingo Tizol, a/k/a "Chapin," 21, of Chelsea
30. Fnu Lnu, a/k/a "Violento," of Arizona
31. Oscar Duran, a/k/a "Demente," 24, of East Boston
32. Edwin Gonzalez, a/k/a "Sangriento," 20, of East Boston
33. Henry Josue Parada Martinez, a/k/a "Street Danger," 20, of East Boston
34. Josue Morales, a/k/a "Gallito," 20, of Chelsea
35. Kevin Ayala, a/k/a "Blancito," 22, of Chelsea
36. Mario Aguilar Ramos, 19, of Somerville
37. Rutilio Portillo, a/k/a "Pantera," 32, of Everett
38. Edwin Diaz, a/k/a "Demente," 18, of East Boston
39. Marvin Melgar, a/k/a "Ninja" 21, of Chelsea
40. Jairo Perez, a/k/a "Seco", 24, of Chelsea
56. Jose Adan Martinez Castro, a/k/a "Chucky", 26, of Richmond, VA

The following defendants are charged with drug trafficking conspiracy:

41. Ramiro Guerra, a/k/a "Camello," 42, of East Boston
42. Manuel Martinez, a/k/a "Gordo," 44, East Boston or Stoneham
43. Alex Alvarenga, 42, of Saugus
44. Manuel Flores, a/k/a "Manny", 41, of East Boston
45. Heiner Yovani Gomez, a/k/a "Fiero," 31, of Chelsea
46. FNU LNU, a/k/a "The Columbian"
47. Carlos Lovato, 32, of Chelsea
48. FNU LNU, a/k/a "Migue"
49. Luis Lnu

The following defendants have been charged with immigration violations and/or fraudulent document charges;

50. Jose Nelsin Reyes-Velasquez, a/k/a "Diablito", 22, of Malden
51. Oscar Rivera, a/k/a "Jose", 27, of Chelsea
52. Roberto A. Lopez, of Chelsea
53. Franklin Rodriguez, a/k/a "Hollywood", 35, of Chelsea
54. Oscar Ramirez-Cornejo, a/k/a "Vago",
55. Mauricio Sanchez, a/k/a "Tigre"
57. Elenilson Gustavo Gonzalez-Gonzalez, a/k/a "Siniestro"

Innocent, etc.