MS-13 leader sentenced to 68 years in federal case involving 8 Long Island murders

Alexi Saenz, the leader of an MS-13 clique in New York City’s suburbs, has been sentenced to 68 years in prison as part of a federal racketeering case involving eight Long Island murders. These murders included the 2016 killings of two high school girls, which brought national attention to the violent Central American street gang.

Saenz pleaded guilty last year for his role in ordering and approving the killings, as well as other crimes that occurred during a period of bloody violence on Long Island. This violence prompted President Donald Trump to make multiple visits to the area and call for the death penalty for Saenz and other gang members.

While Saenz’s lawyers sought a 45-year sentence, prosecutors pushed for the maximum of 70 years. They argued that Saenz deserved to spend the rest of his life in prison for his “senseless” and “sadistic” crimes.

In his sentencing, Judge Gary Brown acknowledged Saenz’s guilty plea and his efforts to convince his younger brother, the gang’s second-in-command, to do the same. Despite this, the judge emphasized that Saenz’s victims would never have the chance to enjoy another day on this planet.

In court, Saenz asked for forgiveness from God, his family, and the relatives of the victims. He expressed remorse for the harm and pain he had caused, acknowledging that his apology may not be accepted by everyone.

Saenz’s lawyers highlighted his intellectual disabilities and traumatic upbringing in El Salvador, which made him vulnerable to recruitment by MS-13. However, Saenz himself refused to use his difficult past as an excuse for his actions, stating that he did not recognize the person who committed those crimes.

Prosecutors dismissed Saenz’s comments as self-serving and insincere, pointing to his continued commitment to MS-13. They cited his disciplinary record in prison, which included assaulting inmates, possessing contraband, and displaying gang affiliation behind bars.

Saenz, also known as “Blasty” and “Big Homie,” led an MS-13 clique known as Sailors Locos Salvatruchas Westside. He admitted to authorizing eight killings and three attempted killings of rivals and others who had disrespected the clique.

Among the victims were Kayla Cuevas and Nisa Mickens, two teenage girls who were brutally slain with a machete and baseball bat. Other victims included Javier Castillo and Oscar Acosta, whose lives were tragically cut short by the gang’s violence.

In addition to the murders, Saenz confessed to arson, firearms offenses, and drug trafficking to fund the gang’s activities. The wider MS-13 gang is a transnational criminal organization believed to have originated in Los Angeles in the 1980s by individuals fleeing civil war in El Salvador.