Five MS‑13 Members Indicted in Grisly East Meadow Murder, Raising Alarm Over Gang Violence
Federal prosecutors have announced the indictment of five alleged MS‑13 members—David Orellana‑Aleman, Noel Portillo‑Romero, Cruz Eduardo Sanchez‑Gutierrez, Ernesto Torres‑Hernandez, and Omar Zavala‑Ventura—for two savage murders linked to “disloyalty” within the gang
According to the charges, the defendants brutally strangled and beat Yoneli Ramos‑Moreno to death in 2023 after accusing him of collaborating with the rival Latin Kings. Alarms escalated when, in March 2024, they allegedly drowned and stabbed one of the original killers, Carlos Lopez‑Lopez, over fears he was cooperating with law enforcement
Yoneli’s body was discovered at Sunken Meadow Bluff after he was lured from a Hauppauge parking lot to a remote location
U.S. Attorney Joseph Nocella described the violence as “extreme savagery
U.S. Attorney Joseph Nocella described the violence as “extreme savagery,” emphasizing that the indictments reflect a coordinated crackdown on MS‑13’s operations
Suffolk County Police Commissioner Kevin Catalina echoed that sentiment, citing the charges as a strong message to violent transnational gangs
The accused, connected to MS‑13’s Hollywood and Carlington cliques, are currently detained without bail and also face allegations of drug trafficking on Long Island
Prosecutors said the gang used drug sales to fund weapons purchases and support international operations
The indictments come amid ongoing efforts by the Eastern District of New York to dismantle MS‑13. Since 2003, the office has brought charges against hundreds of members for racketeering, murder, and weapons crimes
This case underscores the gang’s brutal internal enforcement and its broader criminal network.
As federal authorities tighten the grip on MS‑13, local communities remain on edge—hoping these indictments signal a turning point in the fight against gang violence. The accused will face a federal jury in the coming weeks as the investigation continues.
