CENTRAL ISLIP, N.Y. — A man linked to an MS-13 faction in New York entered a guilty plea in federal court on Tuesday, admitting to his role in a case involving multiple murders, notably the 2016 deaths of two teenage girls that drew national attention to the violent Central American street gang.
Jairo Saenz, 28, made his plea during a federal hearing in Central Islip, which was attended by family members and relatives of the victims. Through a translator, he acknowledged his wrongdoing, stating, “I did these things and I knew they were wrong,” after his attorney outlined the violent incidents that took place in the suburban areas of Long Island, situated just east of New York City.
Originally from El Salvador, Saenz now faces a lengthy prison sentence of 40 to 60 years as part of the plea agreement confirmed by the judge. Prosecutors described him as the second-in-command of a gang faction called Sailors Locos Salvatruchas Westside, which had systematically instilled fear within the communities of Brentwood and Central Islip for several months prior to a particularly heinous act on September 13, 2016.
On that day, Nisa Mickens, 15, and Kayla Cuevas, 16, who were close friends and Brentwood High School classmates, were tragically murdered with a machete and a baseball bat by a group of male assailants who had been tracking them in a vehicle. Following this brutal act, further violence ensued. The incident prompted President Donald Trump to attribute the rise of gang violence to weak immigration policies, leading to multiple visits to Long Island and a notable moment where he invited Cuevas’ mother to his 2018 State of the Union address, expressing support for tougher penalties, including the death penalty for Saenz and others involved in these crimes.
Saenz’s brother, Alexi Saenz, identified as the faction’s leader, previously pleaded guilty to similar charges and is set to be sentenced later this month. Both brothers admitted to orchestrating the murders of rivals and individuals they deemed disrespectful, intending to ascend within MS-13’s ranks and enhance their gang’s reputation.
Outside the courthouse, family members of the victims voiced their sentiments, with the parents of two of the slain expressing a desire for harsher punishment. “It was some justice, but not what I wanted,” remarked George Johnson, father of Michael Johnson, who was brutally murdered in Brentwood in 2016. He noted relief that Saenz would not pose a threat to the public again.
Nisa’s mother, Elizabeth Alvarado, reflected on the loss of her daughter who was just a day away from her sweet sixteen. “That really hurt because she had so many dreams,” Alvarado stated. “She wanted to be a veterinarian. She wanted to be a nurse like me and her dad. There’s just so many things that I’m missing out on.”
The case included other victims as well. Prosecutors indicated that Javier Castillo, a 15-year-old, was lured by gang members before being brutally attacked in a secluded park. Oscar Acosta, 19, was found dead in a wooded area months after leaving home to play soccer. Additionally, Esteban Alvarado-Bonilla, 29, was shot inside a deli, and Dewann Stacks, 34, was fatally assaulted on a Brentwood road.
In his plea, Saenz also admitted to involvement in three attempted homicides, arson, drug trafficking, firearms offenses, and a conspiracy related to the murder of Marcus Bohannon, who was killed by other MS-13 members in 2016.
Acting U.S. Attorney Carolyn Pokorny commented on Saenz’s crimes, describing them as “barbaric acts of senseless gang violence,” with MS-13 transforming sections of Long Island into a violent battleground. She expressed hope that the guilty plea would provide at least some comfort to the families still grieving the loss of their loved ones.
