Department of Justice Press Release

For Immediate Release
October 30, 2009 United States Attorney's Office
Eastern District of Virginia
Contact: (703) 299-3700

MS-13 Gunman Sentenced 80 Years for Attempted Murder

ALEXANDRIA, VA—Dennis L. Gil Bernardez, 33, of Landover, Md., the gunman in an MS-13 shooting, was sentenced to 80 years in prison today for attempting to murder rival gang members on Oct. 6, 2008, at a park near homes in Reston, Va. His accomplice, Jose M. Aguilar Orantes, 18, of Reston, Va., who provided the firearm, was sentenced to 55 years in prison for his role in the attempted murders.

A third member, Carlos B. Guzman Cruz, 25, of Richmond, Va., was sentenced to 144 months in prison for getting rid of the firearm used in the shooting.

Neil H. MacBride, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Joseph Persichini, Jr., Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI Washington Field Office; Jennifer S. Love, Special Agent in Charge of the Richmond Division of the FBI; Colonel David Rohrer, Fairfax County Chief of Police; Toussaint Summers, Chairman of the Board of Chiefs of the Northern Virginia Regional Gang Task Force; and Thierry G. Dupuis, Chief of Police for Chesterfield County Police made the announcement after sentencing by United States District Judge Liam O’Grady.

“The victims in this case were targeted by MS-13 for one reason – they were rivals,â€