MS-13 prosecution efforts face setbacks in U.S. federal courts

The United States federal government has faced significant setbacks in its efforts to prosecute high-ranking leaders of the MS-13 gang. A major case against Moises “Viejo Santos” Rivera-Luna, who was extradited from Guatemala to face racketeering conspiracy charges, failed to result in a conviction after two trials.

The first trial ended in December after a jury failed to reach a verdict. In a second trial held in April, jurors reached an agreement on only one of the three charges. Judge Royce Lamberth, a 40-year veteran of the court, noted the unusual nature of the proceedings.

Legal challenges have also impacted other high-profile figures, such as César Humberto López-Larios. Prosecutors have faced difficulties maintaining cases due to the deportation of gang leaders to El Salvador, which has weakened central testimonies and complicated the pursuit of convictions for terrorism and organized crime.