Three MS-13 gang members sentenced for violent crimes in Charlotte, three others pled guilty
According to court documents and proceedings, those involved were leaders and members of the MS-13 sub-unit known as the Hollywood Locos Salvatrucha Clique, which operated in and around North Carolina, Virginia, Maryland, Washington D.C. and elsewhere.
From December 2018 through November 2022, the defendants engaged in racketeering activities involving murder, kidnapping, extortion, robbery and drug trafficking.
Documents show that on November 6, 2022, 32-year-old Christian Alejandro Garcia Santa Cruz, known as 'Crimen', of El Salvador, 33-year-old Santos Guillermo Ramirez Mancia, of El Salvador, and 30-year-old Aderly 'Chanchin' Jose Veliz-Ronquillo of Guatemala were at a nightclub in Charlotte. They had gotten into an argument with several men in the parking lot of the nightclub.
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During the argument, Mancia identified himself as an MS-13. Mancia and another person shoved each other before Veliz-Ronquillo shot the other person. Santa-Cruz then shot the victim three more times. The victim died from their injuries.
Officials say, participation in criminal activity was also intended to increase the respect and ranking of members within the gang, and to open the door to leadership positions. Accordingly, Santa Cruz and Veliz-Ronquillo committed murder in aid of racketeering to maintain and increase their position within the gang.
Santa Cruz and Veliz-Ronquillo were each sentenced to 35 years for the shooting.
Mancia pleaded guilty to RICO conspiracy and is awaiting sentencing. Mancia held a leadership role within the gang.
In addition to this case, another MS-13 member who also held a leadership role in the gang, Fredy Mauricio Buruca, 27, pleaded guilty to kidnapping a minor.
Juan Francisco Sanchez Estrada, 31, of El Salvador, pleaded guilty to RICO conspiracy and will be sentenced at a later date, following a consolidation of federal cases against him.
Lastly, Luis Fernando Guardardo Moreno, 24, of El Salvador, was sentenced to 20 years in prison followed by three years of supervised release for a racketeering (RICO) conspiracy.
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