MS-13 Members Sentenced For Killings Of Falls Church, Alexandria Teens

ALEXANDRIA, VA — Five MS-13 gang members have been sentenced to life in prison for their roles in kidnapping and killing teens from Alexandria and Falls Church.

The 2016 killings both happened at Holmes Run Stream Valley Park in Fairfax County, where the teenage victims were stabbed, chopped and buried in graves the gang members dug. Five defendants will serve life in prison — Elmer Zelaya Martinez, Ronald Herrera Contreras, Henry Zelaya Martinez, Pablo Velasco Barrera and Duglas Ramirez Ferrera.

There have been 17 defendants charged in the case. Five went to trial and were convicted of all charges, and nine pleaded guilty before trial.

"This is a profoundly disturbing case involving gang members taking the lives of young members of our community," said Fairfax County Police Chief Kevin Davis in a statement. "We are proud to work with our Federal partners on cases like this to keep Fairfax County and surrounding communities safe."

According to prosecutors, a 17-year-old juvenile from Falls Church was targeted by the five gang members and other co-conspirators. On Aug. 28, 2016, the gang members lured the teen to Holmes Run Stream Valley Park in Fairfax County, claiming there would be a gang meeting.

Instead, the gang members attacked and killed the teen. According to court documents, the gang members chopped the teen over 100 times with knives, a machete, and a pickaxe, and his leg was broken so he could fit into a pre-dug grave.

The other incident involved a 14-year-old Alexandria juvenile who gang members suspected was providing information to police. On Sept. 26, 2016, the same five gang members and co-conspirators invited the teen to a gang meeting. The teen went outside, telling his mother he was just taking out the trash, but he was picked up by gang members instead.

Prosecutors say he was taken to Holmes Run Stream Valley Park in Fairfax County, attacking and killing the teen. According to court documents, the teen was stabbed and chopped with knives, machetes, and a pickaxe. The gang members broke his legs and tied him up with his pajama pants so he could fit into a shallow grave they dug. Gang members filmed the killing with a cell phone so that they could prove to gang leaders in the U.S. and in El Salvador they would get higher ranks.

The leading federal prosecutor said in a statement the life sentences for the members were justified.

"Mere proximity to MS-13 and its twisted code cost two unassuming teenage boys their lives," said Jessica Aber, the U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia. "In the wake of their appallingly violent murders lie wrecked families and fear-stricken communities. The sentences of life imprisonment imposed by the court are fitting; they will protect the public from these five defendants, send a message to other members and associates of MS-13 that there will be severe consequences for committing violent crimes in furtherance of their gang’s illicit activities."

Here are the charges and sentences for the five MS-13 members:

Elmer Zelaya Martinez, 31, of El Salvador: Charges of conspiracy to commit kidnapping and murder in aid of racketeering activity; conspiracy to kidnap; murder in aid of racketeering activity; kidnapping resulting in death; sentenced to six terms of life in prison and two terms of 120 months

Ronald Herrera Contreras, 24, of El Salvador: Charges of conspiracy to commit kidnapping and murder in aid of racketeering activity; conspiracy to kidnap; murder in aid of racketeering activity; kidnapping resulting in death; sentenced to six terms of life in prison and two terms of 120 months

Henry Zelaya Martinez, 28, of El Salvador: Charges of conspiracy to commit kidnapping and murder in aid of racketeering activity; conspiracy to kidnap; murder in aid of racketeering activity; kidnapping resulting in death; sentenced to six terms of life in prison and two terms of 120 months

Pablo Velasco Barrera, 24, of El Salvador: Charges of conspiracy to commit kidnapping and murder in aid of racketeering activity; conspiracy to kidnap; murder in aid of racketeering activity; kidnapping resulting in death; sentenced to six terms of life in prison and two terms of 120 months

Duglas Ramirez Ferrera, 26, of El Salvador: Charges of conspiracy to commit kidnapping and murder in aid of racketeering activity; conspiracy to kidnap; murder in aid of racketeering activity; kidnapping resulting in death; sentenced to six terms of life in prison and two terms of 120 months