BOSTON – An MS-13 member pleaded guilty yesterday in federal
court in Boston to racketeering conspiracy.
Modesto Ramirez, a/k/a “Snoopy,” 29, a Honduran national,
pleaded guilty to conspiracy to conduct enterprise affairs through a pattern of
racketeering activity, more commonly referred to as RICO or racketeering
conspiracy. U.S. District Court Judge F. Dennis Saylor IV scheduled sentencing
for Aug. 21, 2018.
After a multi-year investigation, Ramirez was one of dozens
of alleged leaders, members, and associates of MS-13 named in a superseding
indictment unsealed in January 2016 that targeted MS-13’s criminal activities
in Massachusetts. Ramirez is the 47th defendant to be convicted as part of that
ongoing prosecution.
Ramirez was a member of the Trece Locos Salvatrucha or TLS
clique of MS-13. The evidence against Ramirez included a secretly-taped
recording made by a cooperating witness in which Ramirez discussed his
intention to kill a gang rival.
At today’s hearing, the Court accepted Ramirez’s guilty plea
but deferred acceptance of the plea agreement until the sentencing hearing.
Under the terms of the proposed plea agreement, Ramirez will be sentenced to 97
months in prison. Ramirez will also be
subject to deportation upon the completion of his sentence.
United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling; Harold H. Shaw,
Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Field
Division; Peter Fitzhugh, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security
Investigations in Boston; Colonel Kerry A. Gilpin, Superintendent of the
Massachusetts State Police; Commissioner Thomas Turco of the Massachusetts
Department of Corrections; Essex County Sheriff Kevin F. Coppinger; Suffolk
County Sheriff Steven W. Thompkins; Suffolk County District Attorney Daniel F.
Conley; Middlesex County District Attorney Marian T. Ryan; Essex County
District Attorney Jonathan Blodgett; Boston Police Commissioner William Evans;
Chelsea Police Chief Brian A. Kyes; Everett Police Chief Steven A. Mazzie; Lynn
Police Chief Michael Mageary; Revere Police Chief James Guido; and Somerville
Police Chief David Fallon made the announcement.
The remaining defendants charged in this case are presumed
to be innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a
court of law.
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