Six in Multinational Gang Convicted of Murder in U.S.

SAN FRANCISCO – A lengthy federal trial targeting the San Francisco branch of a multinational gang known for violence and drug dealing ended Tuesday with the convictions of six members on murder, racketeering and other charges.

Prosecutors argued that the seven defendants were part of the MS-13 gang that terrorized the Mission District with turf wars that killed rivals and bystanders. They were convicted of extorting money from drug dealers, makers of phony citizenship documents and others.

Jurors convicted Angel Noel Guevara, Moris Flores, Marvin Carcamo, Jonathan Cruz-Ramirez, Guillermo Herrera and Erick Lopez.

Lopez, Cruz-Ramirez and Herrera also were convicted separately of murders in 2008. The jurors also agreed that many of the crimes were committed to gain entrance, maintain position or move up in the gang.

One defendant, Walter Cruz-Zavala, was acquitted of all charges.

MS-13, or Mara Salvatrucha, originated in El Salvador.

The men were indicted in 2008 with 16 others who have pleaded guilty to a wide-range of illegal gang activity.

Two men were sentenced to 20 years each for the stabbing death of a 14-year-old in July 2008.

Two other men have been charged with murder in a 2009 slaying outside a Daly City subway station.

Six more gang members have pleaded guilty and testified for the government in exchange for sentence reductions. They are to be sentenced later.

The six men convicted Tuesday could face life in prison when sentenced on Nov. 30.