MS-13 Leaders Convicted in Las Vegas Murder Spree

On June 29, 2026, in Las Vegas, a federal jury found three purported MS-13 members guilty: Jose Luis Reynaldo Reyes-Castillo ("Molesto"), David Arturo Perez-Manchame ("Herbi"), and Joel Vargas-Escobar ("Momia"). Their convictions relate to a series of 10 murders that occurred between March 2017 and March 2018. Among the victims were Richie Gaudio, who was shot in his driveway on New Year's Eve 2017, and Arquimidez Sandoval-Martinez, who was kidnapped from a nightclub and later discovered dead near Lake Mead. Vargas-Escobar was identified as the shot caller for the Parkview clique, with Reyes-Castillo taking over after his arrest. Several associates, including Miguel Torres-Escobar, have turned into cooperating witnesses. The jury's verdict means the defendants face mandatory life sentences without the possibility of parole, with sentencing scheduled for November. This case underscores the violent nature of MS-13, which originated from Salvadoran immigrants in Los Angeles during the 1980s. In January 2025, an executive order classified MS-13 as a Foreign Terrorist Organization.