Mara Salvatrucha gang member pleads guilty to seven Long Island murders

• Gang Member Guilty of Murders.
• Member of Mara Salvatrucha.
• Shock After Terrible Crimes.

A member of Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13), Jairo Saenz, admitted his guilt for seven murders committed in Long Island, New York, in 2016.

Among the victims of this case that shocked the country are the teenagers Kayla Cuevas and Nisa Mickens, whose murders exposed the violence and expansion of this dangerous gang.

Saenz, 28, appeared in the federal court of Central Islip, where he also pleaded guilty to other charges.

These include organized crime, drug trafficking, weapons possession, and conspiracy.

Mara Salvatrucha Gang Member Declares Crime

The gang member, known as «Funny,» was identified as an accomplice in the murder of Marcus Bohannon, whom MS-13 mistakenly identified as a member of a rival gang.

During the hearing, Saenz acknowledged that he was aware of his actions and stated, «I knew it was wrong.»

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Additionally, he revealed that he worked in the United States before joining MS-13, where he participated as a driver in several shootings.

Saenz’s trial follows the conviction of his brother, Alexi Saenz, who in 2023 was sentenced for his involvement in eight murders, including those of Cuevas and Mickens.

The bodies of the teenagers, aged 16 and 15, were found brutally beaten in September 2016.

The girls were walking together towards their homes in Brentwood when they were attacked.

According to prosecutors, the motive for the murder was a school dispute between Kayla Cuevas and members of the gang.

Although both victims had no links to MS-13, they became targets of the gang’s violence.

MS-13, with its operational base in Central America, has thousands of members in the United States and is considered the most violent gang on Long Island, according to the Prosecutor’s Office.

Jairo Saenz’s sentencing is scheduled for June 13, and he could face between 40 and 60 years in prison.

The case of the murdered teenagers triggered a strong political response at the time.

In 2017, then-President Donald Trump visited the area to condemn the acts of MS-13 and announce an offensive against the criminal group.

MS-13 gang member Jairo Saenz pleaded guilty Tuesday to killing seven people in separate attacks on Long Island, including signing off on the 2016 murders of two teenage girls. @McLoganTV reports.
https://t.co/B2tYqgsR08

—CBS New York (@CBSNewYork) January 14, 2025

Trump promised to «dismantle, eradicate, and deport» the gang members, while calling for the death penalty for those responsible.

That same year, authorities attributed 17 murders on Long Island to MS-13 over an 18-month period.

The tragedy of Cuevas and Mickens remains a symbol of the devastating impact of gang violence on communities.

Despite the efforts of authorities, MS-13 continues to operate with subgroups in various regions of the United States.

Maintaining its reputation for extreme violence.

This case represents a significant step in the fight against gangs.

But it also highlights the need to reinforce strategies to prevent their expansion.

As well as protecting vulnerable communities.

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