MS-13 defendant sentenced to 40 years in prison for role in 3 murders, drug trafficking, extortion, money laundering, assault

COLUMBUS, Ohio – Jose Manuel Romero-Parada, 25, formerly of Indianapolis, was sentenced in U.S. District Court today to 480 months in prison.

Romero-Parada, also known as “Russo,” is one of 23 individuals charged in a second superseding indictment in February 2018 who are alleged to be members and associates of MS-13 in Columbus.

The defendants are charged in a racketeering conspiracy, which includes five murders as well as attempted murder, extortion, money laundering, drug trafficking, assault, obstruction of justice, witness intimidation, weapons offenses and immigration-related violations.

The second superseding indictment alleges that the defendants committed a host of overt acts in furtherance of the conspiracy, including: 1) the December 2006 murder of Jose Mendez, a confidential informant, in Perry County; 2) the November 2008 murder of Ramon Ramos on Lockbourne Road in Columbus; 3) the mid-2015 murder of Carlos Serrano-Ramos, a suspected rival gang member, near Innis Road in Columbus; 4) the November 2015 murder of Wilson Villeda near Innis Road in Columbus; and 5) the December 2016 murder of Salvador Martinez-Diaz, a suspected rival gang member, on Melroy Avenue in Columbus.

Romero-Parada pleaded guilty in August 2019.  He took responsibility for his role in the murders of Carlos Serrano-Ramos and Wilson Villeda, as well as his involvement in drug trafficking, extortion, money laundering and assault.

As part of his plea, Romero-Parada also accepted responsibility for his role in an additional, unindicted murder that took place in 2017 in Indianapolis.  Israel Anibal Mejia-Martinez was killed and dismembered with bladed weapons and buried in Grassy Creek Regional Park in Indianapolis.  Law enforcement officers from Columbus and Indianapolis found his remains in August 2018.

In 2019, six defendants in this case have been sentenced. A total of 14 defendants have pleaded guilty this year.

The lead defendant, Martin Neftali Aguilar-Rivera (also known as Momia), was sentenced in October to life in prison with no chance of release. 

“The purpose behind the brutality of the murders committed by MS-13 was to send a message to anyone who dare threaten their existence,” said U.S. Attorney David M. DeVillers. “Let this sentence be a message to MS-13 that we are threatening the existence of this transnational criminal organization.”

DeVillers is joined by Joseph M. Deters, Acting Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Cincinnati Division; Rebecca Adducci, Detroit Field Office Director, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Enforcement and Removal Operations; Franklin County Sheriff Dallas Baldwin and Columbus Police Chief Thomas Quinlan announced the sentence imposed today by U.S. District Court Judge Edmund A. Sargus, Jr. Deputy Criminal Chief Brian J. Martinez and Assistant United States Attorney Noah R. Litton are representing the United States in this case.