Full Breakdown
Four MS-13 Members Convicted for Machete Murders in Angeles National Forest
6/16/2026, 5:27:25 AM
Convictions and Federal Charges
A federal jury found four Los Angeles County men—Angel Amadeo Guzman (31, Panorama City), Fernando Garcia Parada (28, Panorama City), Edgard Velasquez (43, Reseda) and Jose Jonathan Castillo (34, Koreatown)—guilty of racketeering conspiracy and violent crimes in aid of racketeering for the murders of three individuals. The convictions, announced by the U.S. Department of Justice, carry potential life-sentence terms for each defendant.
Gang Hierarchy and Motive
Prosecutors presented evidence that MS-13 ordered the killings to enforce internal discipline and to reward members who demonstrated willingness to commit extreme violence. According to the Justice Department, the victims were targeted after “slighting” the gang: one painted rival-gang graffiti, another left El Salvador without permission, and a third overstated his rank within MS-13. The murders were intended to secure higher positions for the perpetrators.
Defendants and Alleged Victims
The four convicted men were described as active participants in the abduction and transportation of the victims to the remote sections of the Angeles National Forest. The victims’ identities were not disclosed in the source material, but the Justice Department confirmed that each was hacked to death with machetes after being lured or forced into the forest.
Timeline of the Crimes and Trial
- March 2017: First murder committed in the Angeles National Forest.
- June 2017: Third and final murder carried out.
- November 2023: Federal jury returns guilty verdicts on racketeering and murder charges.
Scope of Related Prosecutions
The Department of Justice noted that the four convictions are part of a broader effort that has secured more than 30 convictions for similar MS-13-linked murders. In a related November case, five additional men were convicted of six murders that also occurred in the Angeles National Forest, underscoring a pattern of forest-based killings tied to the gang.
Legal Implications and Potential Sentences
Each defendant now faces one or more life sentences under federal law. The convictions reinforce the federal government’s strategy of using racketeering statutes to dismantle organized violent crime networks, particularly those that employ murder as a means of internal control.
Department of Justice Statement
The Justice Department emphasized that the verdicts demonstrate the effectiveness of coordinated federal prosecution against MS-13’s violent enforcement tactics. Officials highlighted that the murders were “ordered by the gang to earn higher positions,” reinforcing the agency’s focus on disrupting the gang’s hierarchical incentives for brutality.
Gaps in Public Information
The source material does not provide the names or backgrounds of the three victims, nor does it include statements from defense attorneys, victim families, or community groups. Consequently, the public record lacks perspectives on the broader community impact and any potential criticisms of the investigative or prosecutorial processes.
