Five MS-13 Gang Members Charged with Murder

ALEXANDRIA, Va. – A federal grand jury returned an indictment today charging five members and associates of MS-13 with the murder of Christian Alexander Sosa Rivas, 21, on January 1 at a park in Dumfries.

According to allegations in the indictment, Edgar Oswaldo Blanco Torres, Jose Martir Larios Espenal, Samuel Enrique Villalobos Sanchez, Dimas Misael Canales Santos, and Keyri Sujey Portillo Gonzalez conspired together and with others to kidnap and murder Sosa Rivas because they believed he was a member of a rival gang who was falsely representing himself as a member of MS-13. The indictment further alleges that the defendants kidnapped and murdered Sosa Rivas for the purpose of gaining entrance to and maintaining and increasing position in MS-13, which is an enterprise engaged in racketeering activity.

Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after taking into account the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

Dana J. Boente, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, and Andrew W. Vale, Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI’s Washington Field Office, made the announcement after the indictment was returned. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Rebeca H. Bellows, J. Tyler McGaughey, and Nicholas U. Murphy are prosecuting the case.

This case was investigated by the FBI's Washington Field Office and the Prince William County Police Department. The Virginia Commonwealth Attorney's Office provided significant assistance with the investigation.

A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia.  Related court documents and information is located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 1:17-cr-238.

An indictment contains allegations that a defendant has committed a crime. Every defendant is presumed to be innocent until and unless proven guilty in court.