MS-13 Gang Member to Plead Guilty in Queens Murder Case Against Rival

In a significant development within the ongoing efforts to combat gang-related violence, an alleged member of the notorious MS-13 gang is expected to plead guilty to murder on Friday. This plea comes just weeks before he was scheduled to stand trial in Brooklyn alongside two senior leaders of the organization.

Jose Guevara Aguilar, 26, has been implicated in the murder of Eric Monge, which occurred in September 2020 near Monge’s residence in Queens. Court documents reveal that Guevara Aguilar will appear in Brooklyn Federal Court to officially change his plea as part of a deal that is anticipated to include a guilty admission to charges of murder. Law enforcement sources indicate that this plea change is part of a broader effort by authorities to dismantle the gang’s operations in New York City and Long Island.

Guevara Aguilar is affiliated with the Fulton Locos Salvatruchas clique of MS-13. He was poised to go to trial as part of a larger case that encompasses multiple murders and violent criminal acts linked to the gang. His legal representatives have declined to comment as the case develops.

Alongside Guevara Aguilar, two prominent figures within MS-13, Edenilson Velasquez Larin, 36, and Hugo Diaz Amaya, 37, are accused of playing pivotal roles in orchestrating gang activities, collectively referred to as “La Mesa,” or “The Table,” which governs the gang’s operations across the United States.

Monge, who was affiliated with a rival gang named the Guanacos Little Cycos Salvatruchas, was murdered following a conflict with a member of Guevara Aguilar’s faction. According to federal authorities, this feud escalated to the point where the decision for Monge’s assassination was made by Velasquez Larin, who allegedly provided the firearms used in the fatal shooting. The ambush occurred outside Monge’s home, with the alleged assailants waiting until Monge’s wife took their children inside before opening fire.

The forthcoming trial reflects broader concerns regarding gang violence as authorities intensify their crackdown on MS-13. Recent rulings from Brooklyn Federal Court include substantial sentences for other gang members involved in similar crimes. Notably, Juan Amaya-Ramirez was sentenced to 45 years for his role in the murder of a teenager in 2018, and high-ranking MS-13 member Alexi Saenz received a 68-year sentence for ordering multiple murders including that of two teenage girls.

The case against Guevara Aguilar and his co-defendants highlights the ongoing struggle to address the influence of MS-13 in the region, as law enforcement agencies work diligently to impede the gang’s operations and bring its members to justice. The upcoming plea and trial are seen as critical steps in dismantling the organization and ensuring accountability for its violent actions.

This case continues to unfold under the watchful eye of federal authorities, as they remain committed to addressing gang-related violence and enhancing public safety in communities affected by these criminal enterprises.