A notorious MS-13 gang leader linked to multiple brutal murders reaches an unexpected resolution in his high-profile case.
According to Daily Mail, Jairo Saenz, who admitted involvement in at least seven murders, will receive a sentence of 40 to 60 years instead of the death penalty or life imprisonment through a plea deal with Biden's Department of Justice.
The 28-year-old gang leader ran the Long Island branch of MS-13 alongside his brother Alexi, who also secured a plea deal expected to result in a 70-year sentence. Their branch, known as the Sailors, was connected to several violent cases, including the shocking murder of two Brentwood High School girls in September 2016.
The Sailors' most notorious crime involved the killings of Kayla Cuevas, 16, and Nisa Mickens, 15, who were attacked with a machete and baseball bat. The murders were reportedly triggered after one of the girls criticized the gang on Facebook. The Saenz brothers displayed shocking behavior during court proceedings, laughing and joking while the victims' families watched.
Suffolk County PBA President Lou Civello expressed strong opposition to the plea deal. Following the announcement, he shared his perspective with media outlets:
When you look at how barbaric these crimes were, murdering young kids with machetes, baseball bats, this is a clear case for the death penalty.
The gang's activities extended beyond these murders. In June 2018, Saenz faced additional charges for his role in killing Oscar Acosta, who was beaten with tree limbs and ultimately killed with a machete. His involvement in the murders of Javier Castillo and Dewann Stacks, both attacked with machetes and baseball bats, further demonstrated the gang's brutal methods.
The Saenz brothers were initially targeted during President Trump's first term as part of a federal crackdown on MS-13. Then-Attorney General Bill Barr characterized the gang as a "death cult" focused on building reputations through savage violence rather than traditional criminal enterprises like the mob.
The recent plea deals mark a significant shift from the previous administration's approach. The U.S. Attorney's Office confirmed that the death penalty was no longer being pursued following a 2023 directive from the Attorney General. This decision has sparked controversy among law enforcement officials and victims' advocates.
Civello highlighted that if Saenz serves the minimum 40-year sentence, it would amount to less than six years per murder. He emphasized the need for stricter punishment, stating that someone responsible for such heinous crimes should never have the opportunity to return to society.
The gang's reign of terror included carefully planned executions of suspected rival gang members. In October 2016, they murdered Dewann Stacks in a brutal attack. The killing of Esteban Alvarado-Bonilla, reportedly targeted because of his football jersey's color, demonstrated the arbitrary nature of their violence.
The MS-13 gang's operations combined extreme violence with human and narcotics trafficking. Their activities prompted the formation of a specialized task force aimed at dismantling their network. Despite these efforts, the recent plea deals have raised concerns about the justice system's handling of violent gang cases.
The impact of these crimes continues to resonate throughout Suffolk County. Law enforcement officials maintain that while they appreciate federal partnership and resources, the resolution must prioritize justice for the victims and their families.
Jairo Saenz, the MS-13 gang leader responsible for orchestrating multiple brutal murders on Long Island, will serve between 40 to 60 years in prison following a plea deal with the Biden administration's Department of Justice. The decision marks a significant departure from the previous administration's approach, which had sought the death penalty for both Saenz brothers. The case highlights ongoing debates about appropriate punishment for violent gang crimes and the broader implications of shifting federal prosecution strategies.
