MS-13 Gang Leader Convicted After Assaulting, Intimidating Uniondale Residents: DA

UNIONDALE, NY - A MS-13 gang leader was convicted on Tuesday on 24 charges for assaulting and intimidating teenage and younger Salvadorean immigrants in Uniondale, according to the Nassau County DA.

After a 10-day trial, a Nassau County jury deliberated for one day before finding 31-year-old Jesus Arevalo, of Hempstead, guilty of all 24 counts against him, the DA said.

According to the DA, the charges included:

• five counts of first degree attempted assault
• two counts of second degree criminal possession of a weapon
• second degree criminal use of a firearm
• third degree conspiracy
• five counts of fourth degree conspiracy
• two counts of fifth degree conspiracy
• second degree assault
• second degree attempted assault
• third degree assault
• reckless endangerment
• criminal possession of a firearm
• first degree attempted coercion
• endangering the welfare of a child
• resisting arrest

Arevalo faces a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison on each top count.

He is due for sentencing before Court of Claims Judge Alan Honorof on May 17.

In 2014, Arevalo, a member of the MS-13 gang, directed students at Uniondale High School who were also members of MS-13, including students as young as 15, to recruit students who had recently come to the school from El Salvador, according to the DA.

On May 12, 2014, Arevalo, along with his "co-conspirators," waited outside of Uniondale High School for a student who had resisted the gang’s earlier advancements, the DA said.

Earlier in the day, the student during class told one of the co-conspirators that he was not going to join MS-13 and then went on to insult the gang.

Immediately after school, Arevalo, along with three others, surrounded the student and with Arevalo leading the charge, gang members punched and kicked the student's head and body and attempted to steal his bicycle, the DA said.

About two weeks later members of MS-13 were again harassing the same student in school, the DA said.

Another student intervened and told the gang members to leave the student alone and one of the gang members told him that he would be next, the DA said.

Four days later, that student was stabbed by two MS-13 associates of the Arevalo, who was not present for the stabbing.

On August 14, 2014, members of MS-13 surrounded the house of yet another Uniondale High School student, who had been harassed by the gang as far back as November of 2012, the DA said.

Moments later, Arevalo arrived at the house with a gun, went into the backyard and fired multiple times at the five people who were in the backyard, including a nine-year-old child, according to the DA.

Arevalo fled the scene of the shooting and was finally apprehended by the Special Investigations Squad of the Nassau County Police Department on Oct. 9, 2014, where he resisted arrest by running from a detective and then attempted to punch the detective to avoid capture, the DA said.

Arevalo conspired with seven other people, who were enrolled as students at Uniondale High School and ranged in age from 15 to 19 years old at the time of the crimes, according to the DA.

“With other MS-13 members, this defendant targeted young immigrants attending a local high school, tried to lure them into his violent gang, and put the lives of others including a nine-year-old child in danger,” Singas said. “I thank the jury for its quick verdict to ensure that this violent gang member will pay for every single one of the crimes he was charged with.”