Three individuals affiliated with the MS-13 gang have been charged in connection with the murder of a former member who was cooperating with law enforcement on a federal racketeering and methamphetamine trafficking case. The Justice Department announced these charges on May 16, 2025.
The accused include Dennis Anaya Urias, 26, Grevil Zelaya Santiago, 25, both from South Los Angeles, and Roberto Carlos Aguilar, 30, also from South Los Angeles. Urias and Santiago face charges of murder in aid of racketeering. This charge could result in a mandatory life sentence or potentially the death penalty. Aguilar faces similar charges in a separate complaint. Aguilar is an illegal alien from El Salvador; Urias holds legal permanent residency status; Santiago has a pending visa application.
All three defendants appeared before the United States District Court in downtown Los Angeles where they were ordered to remain in custody without bond until their arraignments scheduled for June 3.
According to affidavits related to the case, on February 18, Urias and Santiago allegedly shot the victim at a grocery store in South Los Angeles. It is reported that the victim's cooperation with authorities was known within MS-13 and led to his targeting under a "green light" order by gang members.
Prior to the murder, Aguilar reportedly had an encounter with the victim inside the grocery store which set off events culminating in his death. On that day, the victim contacted authorities twice indicating attempts on his life by MS-13 members were underway at the store location.
Court documents suggest that by committing this act of violence against their former associate, Aguilar, Urias, and Santiago either avoided punishment or improved their standing within MS-13.
The FBI and Los Angeles Police Department are leading investigations into these incidents. Assistant United States Attorney Shawn T. Andrews is prosecuting these cases as part of Operation Take Back America—a Justice Department initiative aimed at combating illegal immigration and dismantling cartels along with transnational criminal organizations while protecting communities from violent crime perpetrators.
"A criminal complaint is merely an allegation," emphasized officials reminding that all accused parties are considered innocent until proven guilty beyond reasonable doubt.