Violent Atlanta-Area Gang Members Sent to Federal Prison

By Justin Ove (Patch Staff)

Three members of a international crime group — two of whom are from Gwinnett County — have been sentenced to federal prison for their participation in violent gang activities in the Atlanta area, the U.S. Attorney’s Office announced Friday.

Miguel “Blacky” Guevara, a member of the notorious street gang MS-13, was convicted for shooting at suspected rival gang members while in the passenger seat of a Ford truck that had pulled alongside the suspected rivals’ Toyota Corolla on Highway 316 in Gwinnett County during the morning of Dec. 24, 2006. The shots wounded the driver, Celso Villalobos and killed passenger Angel Gonzales.

Guevara, who hails from Florida and is now 31, was seeking permission to reduce his activity in MS-13, and was ordered to carry out the killing before he could “calm down,” prosecutors said. Guevara was sentenced to 30 years in prison and five years’ probation for the shooting, the U.S. Attorney’s Office said.

Irvin Mejia “Triste” Cruz, and Walter ”Goofy” Aldana, fellow members of MS-13, were convicted of a shooting at a playground on gang territory on Aug. 21, 2008. Cruz told Aldana to carry out the shooting to earn more respect from the gang, and gave Aldana the firearm. A 14-year-old boy who was playing basketball was shot in the back and needed surgery to remove the bullet, the U.S. Attorney’s Office said.

Cruz, a Duluth resident and now 24, was sentenced to nine years in prison and five years’ probation upon release. Aldana, a Norcross resident and now 24 was given a sentence of 10 years in prison followed by five years of probation.

Each of the defendants pleaded guilty to the charges levied against them in late October of 2013.

“The gratuitous acts of violence these now-convicted gang members committed were intended to spread fear of their gang throughout the community,” said Acting United States Attorney John Horn in a statement. “Gangs like MS-13 have worked to establish a foothold in counties outside of Atlanta for years, and this case reveals the worst of the senseless violence that can arise from their activities—shooting at cars on the highway, or firing a gun into a group of middle school students playing basketball.

This case also highlights the difficulties faced by youths who try to escape from the gang culture, as a murder occurred simply because a gang member wanted to drop out. Our strategy in cases like this is to decimate the entire gang structure, and eradicate the gang activity so that our citizens can go about their lives safely.”