Skip to main content
Press Release

MS-13 Member Sentenced to Over 20 Years in Prison for Role in 2015 Murder

For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, District of Massachusetts

BOSTON – An MS-13 member was sentenced today in federal court in Boston on charges of racketeering conspiracy involving murder. 

Jose Andrade a/k/a “Inocente,” 27, a Salvadoran national, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge F. Denis Saylor IV to 268 months in prison and three years of supervised release. Andrade will also be subject to deportation proceedings upon completion of his sentence. In March 2018, Andrade pleaded guilty to conspiracy to conduct enterprise affairs through a pattern of racketeering activity, more commonly referred to as RICO, and conspiracy to distribute marijuana.

Andrade was a member of the Everett Locos Salvatrucha, or ELS clique, of MS-13. As part of his plea, Andrade admitted that his racketeering activity, on behalf of MS-13, including his involvement in the murder of a teenager who was associated with MS-13 and wrongly suspected by the gang of cooperating with law enforcement. On July 5, 2015, the victim was murdered in Lawrence by Josue de Paz, a/k/a “Gato,” and another MS-13 member. Evidence showed that Andrade was involved in planning the murder and shared the intent to have the victim killed. The evidence also showed that Andrade was part of the original plan to kill the victim, but was unable to participate in the murder because he was arrested in June 2015. The gang then recruited de Paz to commit the murder.    

Andrade was also charged with conspiracy to distribute marijuana after evidence revealed that he and other MS-13 members distributed marijuana on behalf of the gang. 

On July 8, 2015, de Paz was arrested in Somerville in a raid that resulted in the recovery of a firearm, several large knives, photographs of MS-13 members flashing gang signs, and a large volume of MS-13 paraphernalia, including blue and white hats, bandanas and rosary beads. De Paz pleaded guilty to RICO conspiracy involving murder and is awaiting sentencing.

Andrade was one of 49 defendants convicted as part of this case. All nine defendants who went to trial were convicted and 40 others pleaded guilty. In all, 16 defendants, including de Paz, were found to have committed or knowingly participated in murders.

United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling; Harold H. Shaw, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Field Division; Peter C. Fitzhugh, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in Boston; Colonel Kerry A. Gilpin, Superintendent of the Massachusetts State Police; Commissioner Thomas Turco of the Massachusetts Department of Corrections; Essex County Sheriff Kevin F. Coppinger; Suffolk County Sheriff Steven W. Thompkins; Suffolk County District Attorney John P. Pappas; Middlesex County District Attorney Marian T. Ryan; Essex County District Attorney Jonathan Blodgett; Boston Police Commissioner William Gross; Chelsea Police Chief Brian A. Kyes; Everett Police Chief Steven A. Mazzie; Lynn Police Chief Michael Mageary; Revere Police Chief James Guido; and Somerville Police Chief David Fallon made the announcement today. The U.S. Marshals Service has provided crucial assistance with the case.

Updated November 5, 2018

Topic
Violent Crime