Ramiro Gutierrez and Tito Martinez Alvarenga were sentenced in federal court in Brooklyn on March 11 to 55 years and 48 years in prison, respectively, for their roles in the murders of Abel Mosso in 2019 and Victor Alvarenga in 2018. Both men pleaded guilty to these crimes in January 2025.
The sentencing highlights ongoing efforts by law enforcement to address gang violence and protect communities from organized crime. The U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of New York covers Brooklyn, Queens, Staten Island, Nassau County, and Suffolk County, as indicated on the official website.
United States Attorney Joseph Nocella, Jr. said, “In committing these terrible murders, these defendants and MS-13 put entire communities at risk, including innocent commuters. They will spend decades in prison for their crimes, and our Office and our law enforcement partners will keep working to ensure that any gang member who does not learn from their example is similarly held accountable.” Nocella also thanked the Queens County District Attorney’s Office for its coordination with the investigation.
Acting Special Agent in Charge Michael Alfonso stated, “The defendants’ ruthless actions as MS-13 members — including orchestrating the shooting of Victor Alvarenga, and the cold-blooded killing of Abel Mosso on a busy subway platform — have not only led to the loss of innocent lives but also spread fear, trauma, and devastation throughout our communities. These horrific crimes underscore the urgent need for continued coordinated law enforcement action to confront gang violence. HSI New York, together with our partners, will leave no stone unturned in protecting New Yorkers and holding those responsible fully accountable.”
NYPD Commissioner Jessica S. Tisch said: “As part of a vicious, ruthless international gang, these two defendants terrorized innocent people for years. Now, they will pay for their crimes with lengthy prison sentences. The NYPD will continue to pursue justice against anyone who threatens our communities, and New York City is a safer place today with these two convicted murderers behind bars. I thank the U.S. Attorney’s Office for their continued partnership, and all the NYPD investigators who worked to hold these violent criminals accountable.”
According to court records presented at trial: In November 2018 near his home in Flushing, Queens, Victor Alvarenga was shot multiple times after being targeted by MS-13 members following orders from national leader Edenilson Velasquez Larin; Gutierrez served as getaway driver while Martinez Alvarenga called the victim before taking his phone after he was shot. In February 2019 on a subway platform at Jackson Heights’ 90th Street station—after an assault inside a train car—Gutierrez fatally shot Abel Mosso after declaring themselves as MS-13 members.
These prosecutions are part of broader federal efforts targeting MS-13 activity across New York’s Eastern District—a region where hundreds of MS-13 members have been convicted since 2003 on charges ranging from racketeering to murder—as reported by the official website.
The U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of New York operates as the designated federal prosecutor's office for this district according to its official website; it maintains offices in Brooklyn and Central Islip; supports community outreach and victim assistance efforts; handles both criminal prosecutions and civil matters representation; and is currently led by Breon Peace according to information available on its official website.
Broader implications include ongoing collaboration between local police departments like NYPD and federal agencies such as Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), aiming to reduce gang-related violence through prosecution under federal statutes.
