Two leaders of the MS-13 gang have been sentenced to lengthy prison terms in federal court for racketeering conspiracy and related violent crimes. The sentences were announced by Russ Ferguson, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina, with support from law enforcement officials including Kyle Burns of Homeland Security Investigations, Reid Davis of the FBI Charlotte Division, and Chief Estella D. Patterson of the Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Department.
Fredy Mauricio Buruca, known by aliases such as “Piranha” and “Machete,” received a 30-year prison sentence followed by three years of supervised release. He was also ordered to register as a sex offender after pleading guilty to RICO conspiracy and kidnapping a minor. Santos Guillermo Ramirez Mancia, also known as “Azazel” and “Johnny,” was sentenced to 20 years in prison plus three years of supervised release after pleading guilty to RICO conspiracy.
“MS-13 is one of the most dangerous and ruthless gangs in the country,” said U.S. Attorney Ferguson. “We are working to eliminate this gang from existence, and I am proud to say this prosecution has completely dismantled an entire MS-13 clique known as the Hollywood Locos Salvatrucha Clique that operated up and down the eastern seaboard.”
Reid Davis, Special Agent in Charge at FBI Charlotte, added: “MS-13 gang members feed on brutality, violence, and intimidation. No matter how committed they are to creating chaos in our communities, the FBI and our law enforcement partners remain laser focused to stop the threat. Today's sentences demonstrate our dedication to eradicate MS-13 from the top down.”
Court documents show that Buruca and Mancia led a subgroup called the Hollywood Locos Salvatrucha Clique (HLS clique), which operated not only in North Carolina but also extended its activities into Virginia, Maryland, Washington D.C., and other locations between December 2018 through November 2022.
Investigations revealed that acts committed by HLS clique members aimed at maintaining control within their territory involved extortion, robbery, kidnapping, witness intimidation, enforcing internal discipline through violence or threats against those who disrespected or opposed them—including retaliation against rival gangs.
Buruca served as "First Word," or leader of HLS in Charlotte. He authorized multiple violent acts supporting MS-13's operations. One incident cited occurred on December 12, 2021: Buruca threatened an individual identified as D.G.L. at a nightclub in Woodbridge, Virginia; when his demand for protection money was refused Buruca fired shots at D.G.L., injuring bystanders instead. On February 19, 2022 Buruca participated with others in armed robberies both in Monroe and Charlotte—kidnapping a minor during one incident before making ransom demands.
Mancia’s involvement included shooting a rival gang member identified as J.G.J., causing serious injury on December 2, 2018 due to inter-gang conflict with Mara 18—a rival group—and he became leader following Buruca’s arrest.
On November 6, 2022 Mancia was present when two co-defendants shot W.G.M., resulting in his death during an altercation outside a Charlotte nightclub; both shooters were later sentenced each to 35 years imprisonment for using firearms during this fatal crime.
Other defendants associated with these crimes have received sentences ranging from fourteen to thirty-five years after being convicted or pleading guilty under similar charges involving racketeering activity linked to MS-13.
The defendants will stay in federal custody until transfer arrangements are made with the Federal Bureau of Prisons.
U.S. Attorney Ferguson acknowledged multiple agencies’ roles—including local police departments across several states—for their investigative work leading up to these convictions.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Erik Lindahl and David Kelly prosecuted the case.
