Photo: Department of Justice / Courtesy
The Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York reported Thursday that Enrique Portillo, also known as “Oso” and “Turquía”, a member of La Mara Salvatrucha, also known as MS-13, pleaded guilty in federal court in Central Islip, Long Beach, New York, to crimes of extortion and possession of firearms in connection with his participation in four brutal murders.
Portillo pleaded guilty in connection with the September 13, 2016 murders of teenagers Kayla Cuevas and Nisa Mickens, in Brentwood; the murder of Dewann Stacks on October 13, 2016, in Brentwood; and the January 30, 2017 murder of Esteban Alvarado-Bonilla in Central Islip; as well as his involvement in four assassination attempts, including the firing of a .40 caliber semi-automatic pistol in connection with one of the assassination attempts and furthermore pleaded guilty to arson. according to the statement from the attorney’s office for the Eastern District of New York.
According to court documents and statements made during today’s plea process, Portillo was a member of the Sailors Locos Salvatruchas Westside (Sailors) clique of MS-13. and committed the crimes to maintain and increase his membership and status in the gang.
The guilty plea proceedings were held before District Judge Gary R. Brown. When sentenced, Portillo faces life in prison on the extortion charge and a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years on the firearms charge.
“Today, the defendant pleaded guilty to participating in four extremely brutal murders, including two teenage girls murdered as they walked home, which have left permanent scars on a Brentwood community that has suffered acts of violence and destruction carried out for far too long by MS-13 with machetes, knives, guns and fire,” said US Attorney Breon Peace.
“I am confident that justice will be served for the victims when Portillo is sentenced for his savage crimes. This office will not rest until all members of the MS-13 gang are held accountable for their utter disrespect for human life and the rule of law,” Peace said.
“As part of his desire to gain status within MS-13, Portillo repeatedly acted with complete disregard for human life, killing four people along with numerous other attempts. Today’s guilty plea is a warning to anyone willing to try to gain face through senseless acts of violence: You will face the consequences. The FBI Long Island Gang Task Force will not allow vicious criminals to run rampant and cause our community to live in fear of violence.” said the deputy director in charge of the FBI, James Smith.
“These senseless and barbaric murders, including those of teenagers Kayla Cuevas and Nisa Mickens, have shaken our communities and reverberated across the country.” said SCPD Commissioner Rodney K. Harrison.
Today’s conviction is the latest in a series of federal prosecutions by the US Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York against members of MS-13, a violent transnational criminal organization.
MS-13 leaders are based in El Salvador, Honduras, Guatemala and Mexico, but the gang has thousands of members across the United States.
With numerous branches or “cliques,” MS-13 is the most violent criminal organization operating on Long Island. Since 2003, hundreds of MS-13 members, including Dozens of cabal leaders have been convicted of federal crimes in the Eastern District of New York.
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