AP National News

Feds outline prosecution of MS-13 gang killings in Ohio

By ANDREW WELSH-HUGGINS - Associated Press

Federal and state authorities have outlined details of the long-running prosecution of an Ohio branch of the violent El Salvador-based MS-13 gang. Vipal Patel is acting U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio. Patel and officials from the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office, the Columbus police department and the FBI on Thursday discussed charges against 22 defendants and the solving of eight homicides linked to MS-13 in central Ohio. Racketeering conspiracy charges against gang members have included murder, attempted murder, assault, drug trafficking and money laundering. Gang leader Martin Neftali Aguilar-Rivera was sentenced to life in person in 2019.