Norcross Men Convicted of Gang-Related Murders, Robberies

• Miguel Alvarado-Linares, also known as Joker, 24 years old
• Ernesto Escobar, also known as Pink Panther, 30 years old 
• Jairo Reyna-Ozuna, also known as Flaco, 28 years old

Dimas Alfaro-Granados, a 30-year-old from Duluth, also was convicted.

"The defendants were the leaders of MS-13, an international gang known for its gratuitous murders," said United States Attorney Sally Quillian Yates in the release. "They spread fear throughout the community by killing suspected rival gang members and others who cross their path."

“These four MS-13 members committed a host of brutal crimes that devastated countless lives in Northern Georgia,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Raman. 

Sentencing for the four defendants will be scheduled for a later date. 

Alvarado-Linares, Escobar and Alfaro-Granados were convicted of RICO conspiracy involving murder, which carries a sentence up to and including life. Reyna-Ozuna was convicted of RICO conspiracy, which carries a sentence of up to 20 years. Alvarado-Linares, Escobar and Alfaro-Granados were also convicted of committing Violent Crime in Aid of Racketeering, which carries a mandatory sentence of life in prison. All of the defendants were convicted of firearms offenses, which carry a sentence of up to and including life. Parole has been abolished in the federal system.

MS-13 has operated in the Atlanta area since at least 2005. During the course of this investigation, which ended in 2010, more than 75 MS-13 members have been arrested, charged and/or deported.  

Members were organized into “cliques,” or groups, where each clique had a leader. They conducted meetings where members discussed their crimes against rival gang members and their plans to retaliate against their rivals.

The clique leader collected dues from the gang members. The leaders used the money to buy guns and post bail for jailed members. Some of the money was sent back to the MS-13 leaders in El Salvador and Honduras. Clique leaders communicated with MS-13 leaders in their home countries to update them on gang activities in the Atlanta area. The gang members staked out Gwinnett and DeKalb counties as their home territory, where they committed murders, attempted murders, and armed robberies. They also sold cocaine as part of their gang activity. 

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