MS-13 gang members convicted of murder and racketeering in Nevada

A federal jury in Las Vegas found three alleged MS-13 members—Jose Luis Reynaldo Reyes‑Castillo, David Arturo Perez‑Manchame and Joel Vargas‑Escobar—guilty of multiple counts of murder, kidnapping, drug trafficking and firearms offenses tied to a racketeering scheme. The 43‑day trial covered crimes committed in Nevada and California between 2017 and 2018 that left 11 victims dead and resulted in extensive gunshot, stab and slash injuries.

The men face a mandatory minimum sentence of life in prison without parole, with sentencing set for November 10. A fourth defendant, Alexander De Jesus Figueroa‑Torres, pleaded guilty before trial. Prosecutors highlighted the gang’s use of extreme violence to climb its hierarchy, while the defense challenged the credibility of cooperating witnesses who testified in exchange for reduced sentences.

FBI Director Kash Patel called the verdict a "major victory" in the agency’s effort to dismantle violent gangs across the United States. The case follows recent high‑profile MS‑13 prosecutions, including a 68‑year sentence for a leader in New York and a collective trial of nearly 500 alleged members in El Salvador.