EL PASO, Texas (Border Report) – The U.S. Department of Justice has agreed to a deal with a high-ranking MS-13 gang leader to avoid the death penalty in exchange for his cooperation, officials said Monday.
Jonathan Carias, also known as “Loco,” is a former MS-13 gang leader in El Salvador who was extradited to the United States in 2018 to face charges related to three murders and multiple attempted murders in El Paso.
Carias was facing the possibility of the death penalty after being charged with capital murder in the deaths of three people in the late 1990s and early 2000s.
According to court documents, Carias was a key player in the MS-13 gang’s violent and brutal crimes in the El Paso area during the late 1990s and early 2000s.
As part of the deal, Carias has agreed to cooperate with law enforcement and provide information on other MS-13 members in exchange for a sentence of no more than 20 years in prison. The deal still needs to be approved by a federal judge.
The U.S. Department of Justice has charged Carias with multiple counts of murder, attempted murder, and other crimes related to his involvement with the MS-13 gang. Prosecutors had planned to seek the death penalty in the case, citing the extreme brutality of the murders and the MS-13’s ruthless tactics.
The deal comes as the U.S. Justice Department is facing increased scrutiny over its use of the death penalty, with several high-profile executions scheduled for 2023.
The cooperation agreement with Carias marks a significant coup for the U.S. government, which has been working to dismantle the MS-13 gang, one of the most violent and feared gangs in the world.
MS-13, or Mara Salvatrucha, was founded in El Salvador in the 1980s and has since spread to countries around the world, including the United States, where it has been linked to numerous violent crimes, including murder, gang rape, and extortion.
The gang is known for its brutal tactics, including beheadings, dismemberments, and torture, and has been a major source of fear among U.S. law enforcement agencies.
By agreeing to cooperate, Carias is expected to provide valuable information on the inner workings of the MS-13 gang, its leadership, and its crimes, which could lead to the indictment and prosecution of other high-ranking members.