By Nancy Lavin 7 hrs ago

Three Prince George’s County men were found guilty on Friday of federal racketeering charges related to their involvement in a local branch of the La Mara Salvatrucha gang, also known as MS-13, according to a news release from the U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland Office.

MS-13 is an international gang composed primarily of descendants from El Salvador. Members with a local branch have been charged with planned and committed murders, assaults and robberies in Prince George’s, Montgomery and Fredrick counties, among other crimes, the release stated.

The men convicted Friday were Jorge Enrique Moreno-Aguilar, who is also known as “Flaco” and “Castigato,” 22, of District Heights; Juan Alberto Ortiz-Orellana, who is also known as “Chele” and “Furia,” 27, of District Heights; and Minor Perez-Chach, who is also known as “Minor Chach-Perez,” “Little Bad” and “Bryant Sacarias,” 25, of Hyattsville.

Moreno-Aguilar and Ortiz-Orrellana were involved in the planning and shooting of a rival gang member in March 2013, according to the release. Perez-Chach killed a Hyattsville man who he believed had testified against other MS-13 members in federal trials, the report states.

All three face a mandatory life sentence for multiple convictions including conspiracy to participate in racketeering and murder in aid of racketeering. Ortiz-Orrellana was also convicted of murder and use and discharge of a firearm during a violent crime. Perez-Chach was also convicted for unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition by a felon and a person in the country illegally.

Eight of the other 13 defendants charged in the investigation have also pleaded to their roles in the gang, the release stated.

The investigation and convictions also involved the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations, the Prince George’s County Police Department, the Montgomery County Police Department, Prince George’s County State’s Attorney’s Office and Montgomery County State’s Attorney’s Office, the release stated.

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