Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney | U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia
A Salvadoran national affiliated with the Uniones Locos Salvatrucha clique of the MS-13 gang received a life sentence in Alexandria, Virginia. Elmer De Jesus Alas Candray, also known by aliases including German Alexander Ramirez Lopez and Buky, was sentenced to six concurrent life prison terms for his involvement in multiple murders and murder conspiracies as part of MS-13's criminal activities.
Court documents revealed that on August 25, 2018, Alas Candray participated in the murder of an associate from the Directos Locos Salvatrucha clique, identified as K.A.C., in New Bedford, Massachusetts. The killing was sanctioned by MS-13 leadership in El Salvador due to suspicions of betrayal. Following this incident, Alas Candray and other conspirators were promoted within the gang.
Further incidents included a June 23, 2019 attack where Alas Candray and associates armed themselves and murdered J.L.G.M. in Reston using firearms and machetes. On September 17, 2020, they lured I.J.P.G. to Colts Neck Road under false pretenses before killing her with gunfire.
In March 2021, Alas Candray conspired to murder S.A.T.L., believed to be a rival gang member. He fatally shot S.A.T.L. at an apartment complex in Reston. Another victim, R.A.P.S., was killed on May 30, 2022 by being struck with a rock along a footpath behind Lerner Springs at Reston Apartment Homes.
On June 18, 2022, F.R.A.R. was beaten with a baseball bat and stabbed at Seneca Regional Park for allegedly disrespecting MS-13 rules. Alas Candray instructed relatives on August 17, 2022 to relay messages using coded language to dispose of evidence amid law enforcement scrutiny.
The jury found Alas Candray guilty of conspiracy related charges involving racketeering enterprise participation and use of firearms during violent crimes resulting in death.
The sentencing announcement was made by Erik S. Siebert from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia; Sean Ryan from the FBI Washington Field Office; and Kevin Davis from Fairfax County Police after sentencing by Judge Michael S. Nachmanoff.
Assistant U.S Attorneys John Blanchard, Megan Braun, and Natasha Smalky prosecuted the case under an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces operation aiming to dismantle high-level criminal organizations threatening U.S security.
