MS-13 member pleads guilty to murder in Holmes Run Stream Valley Park
An El Salvadoran member of the transnational street gang La Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13) pleaded guilty Nov. 15 to the kidnapping and murder of an adolescent boy in 2016 in Holmes Run Stream Valley Park in Mason District.
According to a news release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia, Edwin Orellana Caballero was one of several members and associates of the Park View Locos Salvatrucha clique of MS-13 who kidnapped and killed a 14-year-old victim identified in court records as S.A.A.T. Orellana Caballero was 16 years old and living in Alexandria at the time.
On the night of Sept. 26, 2016, the gang lured S.A.A.T. to a wooded area in Holmes Run Stream Valley Park in Lincolnia and murdered him with knives, machetes, and a pickaxe. Orellana Caballero struck S.A.A.T. multiple times with the pickaxe. Once S.A.A.T. was dead, the gang buried him in a shallow grave.
Related story: Annandale man in MS-13 sentenced to life in prison for murder and racketeering
Orellana Caballero who was transferred for prosecution as an adult under the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act. He pleaded guilty to one count of maiming in aid of racketeering activity and faces a minimum of 20 years and a maximum of 25 years in prison. Sentencing is scheduled for Feb. 28.
A federal district court judge will determine the sentence after taking into account the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors, the news release states. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties.
To date, a total of 17 defendants have been charged in this case. Of those, five defendants went to trial and were convicted of all charges. Ten defendants pleaded guilty before their trials.
This case is part of the Justice Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces. The task force identifies, disrupts, and dismantles high-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach.
9 responses to “MS-13 member pleads guilty to murder in Holmes Run Stream Valley Park”
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This story is beyond horrific. The terror and agony the victim must have experienced, at just age 14; all the young lives of the gang members, ruined.
We need a multi-disciplinary gang exit program, starting with a safe place to go or call, for any gang member who wants out.
I agree that this is horrific. I think it is important to note how successful the prosecution has been in this case. I am deeply saddened to think of all these young people involved in this crime, and I am relieved that they have been apprehended. Gang issues in Northern Virginia tend to focus on members of the group that are involved and less so on general members of the public, so many people may not focus as much on their prevalence over time.
As long as our borders remain porous this will continue to be a problem. Those extreme liberals who live in high income areas for the most part are not affected by these issues. However, their vote impacts how these issues get addressed or NOT. Unfortunately, our two party system has failed us because both parties are preoccupied with extremist positions leaving the rest of us to fend for ourselves.
Not sure how the right wing is implicated here. Seems to me to be entirely a problem created and owned by the left.
Enforce the laws or change them through the legislature.
Selective enforcement erodes respect for the law, hence increased lawlessness across the country. Or, as an astute commenter on this blog recently and euphemistically observed, “Society is changing.”
And where does it say that these horrible gang members are illegal immigrants?
You are assuming a lot.
Are you daft? It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure this out. Our borders are overflowing with people wout credentials. There are many undesirables imbedded amongst some of the many good people that are looking to improve their lives. Even the democrats are starting to take notice that this a huge problem, a problem that the left has not been able to wrap their heads around.
Seems that you have a lot of problems with ppl who cross the border wandering why !
Ppl don’t need a rocker scientist to see you have a bit racism on you is not about illegal immigrants! This gang members are kids who don’t understand the problems of life and are just playing with theirs life other kids Life
Just an evil and devastating torture and slaughter of a child. I pray for comfort for his family
That MS-13 gang member should STAY in prison for LIFE instead of 20-25 years! )<