An MS-13 leader, Elmer Alas Candray, is currently on trial in Virginia for his involvement in six brutal murders over the past five years. One of the murders involved shooting a young waitress multiple times in the face until her body was unrecognizable.
Federal prosecutors claim that Alas Candray, a 27-year-old from El Salvador, became one of the most active killers in Virginia as he climbed the ranks of the violent MS-13 gang, known for its extreme violence.
Alas Candray is facing charges of murder, racketeering conspiracy, and firearms-related offenses related to the six killings, which took place in Fairfax County, Virginia, and Massachusetts.
If convicted, he could be sentenced to life in prison. The trial is considered the most significant murder case prosecuted by federal authorities in several years.
Interestingly, some of Alas Candray’s own gang members are expected to testify against him. Out of the eight gang members charged last year, seven have pleaded guilty, and five are set to testify against Alas Candray.
During the trial, Assistant US Attorney Megan Braun presented details of the case, including graphic images of the victims’ bodies. The murders involved extreme violence, such as shooting victims multiple times and leaving them unrecognizable.
Alas Candray and his associates committed the murders as a message to others in their territory, including killing individuals who were seen as a threat to their activities.
The trial is ongoing, and prosecutors are presenting evidence linking Alas Candray to the murders, including a kill list found on his phone and weapons seized from his residence.
Despite the evidence presented by prosecutors, Alas Candray’s defense attorney maintains his client’s innocence and argues that the prosecution’s case is based on self-serving testimony from cooperating witnesses.
MS-13, with its origins in El Salvador, has a reputation for extreme brutality, with thousands of members involved in violent activities directed by leaders in prison.
While law enforcement in northern Virginia has made efforts to convict gang members, MS-13’s presence in the region continues to pose a threat.
The trial of Elmer Alas Candray is expected to continue for several weeks as prosecutors seek justice for the victims of these heinous crimes.
