This week in Central Islip federal court, an MS-13 gang leader was sentenced to 68 years in prison for eight murders, multiple attempted murders, arson, narcotics trafficking, and firearms offenses.
Trans-national MS13 criminal gang member, Alexi Saenz (30) originally from El Salvador, also known as “Blasty” and “Plaky,” the leader of the Brentwood/Central Islip chapter of the Sailors Locos Salvatruchas Westside (Sailors) clique of La Mara Salvatrucha (MS13).
President Trump in his first term had sought the death penalty only to be reversed under the Biden administration.
Saenz pleaded guilty in July 2024 to racketeering charges in connection with his participation in eight murders, namely, the 2016/17 murders of Michael Johnson, Oscar Acosta, Marcus Bohannon, Kayla Cuevas, Nisa Mickens, Javier Castillo, Dewann Stacks, and Esteban Alvarado-Bonilla. Saenz also plead guilty to participation in three attempted murders, and arson, narcotics trafficking, and firearms offenses.
The murders were especially brutal and several of the victims young teenagers. Brentwood High School classmates Kayla Cuevas (16) and Nisa Mickens (15) were brutally murdered with a machete and a baseball bat. Javier Castillo (15) of Central Islip, was hacked to death with a machete in the head, neck, and torso. His body was disposed of in a marsh and not found for a year.
Suffolk County Police Commissioner, Kevin Catalina joined Joseph Nocella, Jr, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York; and Christopher G. Raia, Assistant Director in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office announcing the sentence. https://www.justice.gov/usao-edny/pr/ms-13-gang-leader-sentenced-68-years-prison-eight-murders-multiple-attempted-murders
SCPD Commissioner Catalina said, “Alexi Saenz is a violent career criminal whose path of destruction ripped apart families and terrorized Suffolk County with his MS-13 cohorts.”
“Alexi Saenz led an unspeakable reign of terror, killing, and crime that damaged his community and cost several people their lives,” stated US Attorney Nocella. “My Office and our law enforcement partners will continue to work tirelessly to hold the MS-13 and its members accountable for their horrific acts, including the pain they’ve caused victims and their loved ones. “