A federal jury on Friday convicted five MS-13 gang members for their roles in kidnapping and brutally murdering two teenage Virginia boys whom they "erroneously" suspected of remaining a rival gang member and police informant.

Elmer Zelaya Martinez, 31 Ronald Herrera Contreras, 24 Henry Zelaya Martinez, 28 Pablo Velasco Barrera, 24 and Duglas Ramirez Ferrera, 25, of El Salvador plotted to kidnap and eliminate each a 17-year-previous boy from Falls Church whom they wrongly suspected of becoming in a rival gang and 14-12 months-outdated boy from Alexandria whom they wrongly suspected of currently being a law enforcement informant in August 2016, according to court information.

The gang members lured both boys into Holmes Operate Stream Valley Park on August 28 of that yr under the pretense that they would be attending a gang conference in the woods.

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They restrained, attacked and killed the 17-12 months-previous by stabbing him numerous instances and "chopping" his entire body far more than 100 situations "with knives, machetes, and a pickaxe" just before stuffing him into a pre-dug hole — breaking a single of the boy's legs in the course of action to in shape his continues to be inside, in accordance to the Justice Department.

The gang users also restrained, attacked and killed the 14-year-old boy by stabbing and chopping his overall body with the exact weapons. Once the 14-12 months-previous was useless, they broke both his legs and tied him with his possess pajamas so he would fit into a pre-dug gap — all of which they filmed and despatched to gang leaders in both the U.S. and El Salvador to confirm their rank, the DOJ reported. 

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The boys experienced been claimed missing till their remains were discovered in March 2017 and determined in December 2017.

A total of 17 defendants have been charged in the just about six-yr-aged case. 

MS-13 is a transnational gang built up largely of persons of Salvadoran or other Central American descent, according to the DOJ. (YURI CORTEZ/AFP )

All five of the defendants identified responsible on Friday in a Virginia federal court were being charged with conspiracy to commit kidnapping and murder in support of racketeering action conspiracy to kidnap murder in aid of racketeering activity kidnapping resulting in loss of life. They also all face required life sentences.

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MS-13 is a transnational gang created up largely of people today of Salvadoran or other Central American descent, in accordance to the DOJ.

The gang has more than 10,000 users conducting common activities across at the very least 10 states and Washington, D.C., "with hundreds far more conducting gang actions in Central The united states and Mexico," the office famous in a 2021 press launch.