MAGEC - Multi-Agency Gang Enforcement Consortium
https://www.justice.gov/usao-edca/pr/ms-13-member-sentenced-life-prison-kidnapping-and-murder
MS-13 Member Sentenced to Life in Prison for Kidnapping and Murder
FRESNO, Calif. — Israel Alberto Rivas Gomez, 28, a citizen of El Salvador residing in Mendota, was sentenced today to life in prison for kidnapping and murder in aid of racketeering, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.
“Excellent law enforcement work led to the arrest of 25 individuals associated with the MS-13 gang for criminal activity in California’s Central Valley,” said U.S. Attorney Talbert. “Rivas Gomez participated in the brutal murder of a 19-year old man. The murder was preplanned, carefully orchestrated, driven by allegiance to MS-13, and deserving of a life sentence. The U.S. Attorney’s Office is committed to dismantling criminal enterprises like MS-13 and to vindicating the rights of victims and seeking justice for their family members and loved ones.”
“The gruesome homicides that were committed to intimidate the community and further the efforts of MS-13 to exploit the community in Mendota exemplify why the FBI is deeply committed to working with our local, state, and federal law enforcement partners to disrupt the grip gangs attempt to have on our communities,” said Special Agent in Charge Sean Ragan of the FBI Sacramento Field Office. “Law enforcement and the community must stand together against violent gangs to offer residents and their children a brighter future and today’s sentence demonstrates the success we can have when we work together to investigate and disrupt organizations determined to exploit our communities.”
“While nothing can erase the pain that family members experience when their loved one is kidnapped and murdered in cold blood, this investigation, prosecution, and sentencing goes a long way in obtaining justice,” said Homeland Security Investigations San Francisco (NorCal) Special Agent in Charge Tatum King. “HSI San Francisco is proud of our agents and professional staff who worked together on this multi-year criminal investigation into this MS-13 clique in Mendota, which yielded dozens of arrests and prevented additional acts of violence.”