BOSTON – Twenty-six alleged leaders, members and associates of the Trinitarios, a violent transnational criminal organization, have been indicted on federal racketeering (RICO) conspiracy and drug trafficking charges in connection with five murders and 19 attempted murders. In addition to the 26 defendants charged today , the superseding indictment also includes eight previously charged Trinitarios who are facing RICO conspiracy and drug trafficking charges.
Over the past two years, the U.S. Attorney’s Office has been relentless in its efforts to dismantle and decimate the Trinitarios in Massachusetts, charging a total of 56 members who are alleged to have committed or participated in 11 murders and 30 attempted murders since 2017. The investigation also resulted in the apprehension of seven illegal aliens from the United States who have either been deported or are currently in deportation proceedings.
The charges unsealed today are part of a multijurisdictional, multiphase investigation that began in 2024 in the aftermath of four murders and a series of attempted murders and shootings in Lynn, Mass., allegedly committed by the Trinitarios. In February 2025 , the investigation led to federal RICO conspiracy charges against 22 leaders, members and associates of the Lynn Chapter of the Trinitarios and its state leadership. Court documents in that case described the Lynn Trinitarios’ alleged participation in six murders and 11 attempted murders. Documents unsealed today describe state convictions of alleged Trinitarios in Essex County Superior Court in connection with four additional murders over the past decade.
The individuals charged today are alleged leaders, members and associates of the Lawrence, Haverhill and Boston Chapters of the Trinitarios. Court documents unsealed today describe the gang’s alleged participation in five murders, 19 attempted murders, efforts to kill witnesses, the trafficking of dozens of kilograms of fentanyl, cocaine and methamphetamine to New Hampshire and Maine, extortion of legitimate businesses with the threat of violence, kidnappings and robberies.
According to court documents , the Lawrence, Lynn, Boston and Haverhill Chapters of the Trinitarios allegedly dominated their communities by intimidating rival gangs and establishing control over certain neighborhoods. Each individual Chapter allegedly had a “Cabinet” of leaders who were responsible for recruiting new members, providing discipline to members in violation of Trinitarios directives and collecting money for a communal account used to support illegal operations and incarcerated Trinitarios members and their families. It is further alleged that the Trinitarios employed a written “Magna Carta” that defines the structure and rules of the organization, as well as slogans, symbols, colors and practices.
The Massachusetts Trinitarios allegedly undertook extensive efforts to recruit new members among communities of legal immigrants and illegal aliens from the Dominican Republic – particularly juveniles in local high schools in Lawrence and Lynn. The gang allegedly appealed to the recruits shared Spanish language and culture, Dominican patriotism and used the appearance of prosperity and brotherhood.
It is further alleged that members were generally initiated into the gang after a period of observation or probation and were often inducted following the completion of a “mission” – which were generally significant acts of violence such as shootings, beatings, or fist fights with rival gang members that were the same age or stature. Upon induction, new members were “blessed” into the organization during a formal ceremony, administered oaths by the State Supreme and awarded ceremonial beaded necklaces. Younger members were allegedly tasked with lesser roles during many violent “missions,” including standing lookout during shootings, holding or concealing weapons on behalf of full members and transporting weapons after a shooting.
The gang allegedly produced music and music videos featuring Trinitarios pageantry and symbolism; gang members in Trinitarios colors and clothing holding weapons, cash and other items; and lyrics that boasted about the Trinitarios proclivity for violence and the scope of their successful drug distribution operations and other money-making criminal endeavors as warnings and threats to other rival gangs.
In February 2025 , federal racketeering charges were unsealed against 22 leaders and members of the Trinitarios. In March 2025 , a Lynn member of the Trinitarios, Ricardo Bratini-Perez, was sentenced to 10 years in prison. In June 2025 , two members of the Trinitarios, Rodderith Peralta and Isiah Medina, were charged with kidnapping a drug supplier. In July 2025 , the leader of the Lynn Chapter, Aaron Liranzo, was sentenced to 14 years in prison. In December 2025, two members of the Lynn Chapter, Michael Miliano and James Jimenez , pleaded guilty to RICO conspiracy. In April 2026, Luis Enrique Santana pleaded guilty to RICO conspiracy. In May 2026, Westyn Lantigua pleaded guilty to RICO conspiracy. In June 2026, Luis Jeffrey Santana pleaded guilty to RICO conspiracy.
The charge of conspiracy to conduct enterprise affairs through a pattern of racketeering activity (also known as “racketeering conspiracy” or “RICO conspiracy”) provides for a sentence of up to life in prison, five years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. The charge of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, supervised release for up to life and a fine of up to $1 million. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; Jeff Grimming, Acting Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in New England; Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation; Jarod A. Forget, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, New England Field Division; Thomas Greco, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, Boston Feld Division; Essex County District Attorney Paul F. Tucker; Massachusetts State Police Colonel Geoffrey D. Noble; Lawrence Police Chief Maurice Aguiler; and Methuen Police Chief Scott J. McNamara made the announcement. Valuable assistance was provided by the United States Postal Inspection Service; Customs and Border Protections; U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Hampshire; U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Maine; Massachusetts Department of Corrections; Massachusetts Army National Guard – Counterdrug Office; Attorney General’s Office for the State of Maine; New Hampshire State Police; Maine State Police; Maine State Drug Enforcement Administration; Piscataquis County Sheriff’s Department (Maine); Middlesex District Attorney’s Office; Essex County Sheriff’s Department; and the Andover, Boston, Haverhill, Tewksbury and Littleton, New Hampshire Police Departments. Assistant U.S. Attorney Philip A. Mallard of the Organized Crime & Gang Unit is prosecuting the case.
This case is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF Boston is comprised of agents and officers from HSI, FBI, DEA, ATF, USMS, IRS-CI, USPIS, DOL-OIG and DSS, as well as several state and local law enforcement agencies, with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Massachusetts.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces and Project Safe Neighborhood .
The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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APPENDICES
LIST OF DEFENDANTS CHARGED TODAY
#
FIRST
LAST
ROLE
CHAPTER
1 Yordali
Yorro
Primera
Lawrence Chapter
2 James
Cabrera
Senior Member
Lawrence Chapter
3 Luis
Crispin
Senior Member
Lawrence Chapter
4 Angel
Castillo-Garcia
Senior Member
Lawrence Chapter
5 Osviallis
Serrano
Senior Member
Lawrence Chapter
6 Jervis
Almanzar
Member
Lawrence Chapter
7 Enrique
Duran
Member
Lawrence Chapter
8 Abigail
Arias
Member
Lawrence Chapter
9 Justane
Garcia
Member
Haverhill Chapter
10 Riky
Montilla
Member
Lawrence Chapter
11 Jeremy
Felix
Member
Lawrence Chapter
12 Jose
Martinez
Member
Lawrence Chapter
13 Jayden
Muniz
Member
Lawrence Chapter
14 Geovane
Fernandes
Member
Lawrence Chapter
15 Jahir
Davila
Discipline
Lawrence Chapter
16 Yanuel
Mejia
Member
Lawrence Chapter
17 Luis
Fernandez Lopez
Member
Lawrence Chapter
18 Victor
Diaz
Member
Lawrence Chapter
19 Xavier
Puello
Member
Lawrence Chapter
20 Joelfry
Cabrera
Associate
Lawrence Chapter
21 Richard
Pena
Member
Haverhill Chapter
22 Hector
Mota
Member
Haverhill Chapter
23 Jean
Delgado
Associate
Haverhill Chapter
24 Luis
Cabral
Primera
Boston Chapter
25 Yoldari
Tejeda Coronado
Member
Boston Chapter
26 Martin
Taveras
Member
Boston Chapter
LIST OF PREVIOUSLY CHARGED RELATED DEFENDANTS AND STATUS
(*) Defendants charged in superseding indictment unsealed today are marked with asterisk.
#
FIRST NAME
LAST NAME
DOCKET NO.
CASE STATUS
1
Ricardo
Bratini-Perez
24-CR-10310
Sentenced
2
Rosnel
Polanco
24-CR-10263
Pleaded Guilty
3
Eric
Rosario
24-CR-10263
Pleaded Guilty
4
Robert
Santana
24-CR-10263
Pleaded Guilty
5
Yeferson
Vallecillo Cambar
24-CR-10335
Pending
6
Elvis
Trujillo
24-CR-10336
Pending
7
Abel
Severino-Reyes
24-CR-10373
Pleaded Guilty
8
Warly
Ruiz
24-CR-10380
Pleaded Guilty
9
David
Garcia
25-CR-10006
Pleaded Guilty
10
Tomy
Sanchez
25-CR-10007
Pleaded Guilty
11
Carlos
Ramirez
25-CR-10008
Pleaded Guilty
12
*Justin
Alba
25-CR-10058
Pending
13
*Darwin
Batista
25-CR-10058
Pending
14
*Janoy
Batista
25-CR-10058
Pending
15
Aaron
Diaz Liranzo
25-CR-10058
Sentenced
16
*Israel
Garcia-Vasquez
25-CR-10058
Pending
17
James
Jimenez
25-CR-10058
Pleaded Guilty
18
*Ery
Jordani Rosario
25-CR-10058
Pending
19
Westyn
Lantigua
25-CR-10058
Pleaded Guilty
20
*Kelvin
Liranzo Roman
25-CR-10058
Pending
21
Michael
Miliano
25-CR-10058
Pleaded Guilty
22
*Enmanuel
Paula-Cabral
25-CR-10058
Pending
23
Luis Jeffrey
Santana
25-CR-10058
Pleaded Guilty
24
Luis Enrique
Santana
25-CR-10058
Pleaded Guilty
25
*Angel
Santos
25-CR-10058
Pending
26
Wilving
Lopez
25-CR-10062
Pleaded Guilty
27
Leonardo
Espinoza
25-CR-10236
Pleaded Guilty
28
Isiah
Medina
25-CR-10302
Pending
29
Rodderrith
Peralta
25-CR-10302
Pending
30
Derek
Mercado
25-CR-10411
Pleaded Guilty
LIST OF TRINITARIOS HOMICIDES
DATE
VICTIM NAME
LOCATION
STATUS
March 8, 2017 Juan Espinal Lawrence, Mass. Pending State & Federal Cases April 16, 2017 Aracelys Valdez Lawrence, Mass. State Murder Conviction July 30, 2017 Jensey Hernandez Lawrence, Mass. State Murder Conviction Nov. 26, 2017 Mindy Tran Lawrence, Mass. Pending Federal Case May 17, 2018 Nike Colon Lawrence, Mass. State Murder Conviction Sept. 3, 2018 Jaithian Amador Lawrence, Mass. Pending Federal Case March 30, 2020 Carlos Rivera Methuen, Mass. Pending Federal Case May 14, 2021 Edward Javier Lawrence, Mass. State Murder Conviction Dec. 31, 2021 Jumil Celladilla Lawrence, Mass. Pending Federal Case Feb. 17, 2022 Ewdy Lopez Methuen, Mass. Pending State & Federal Cases Sept. 2, 2023 Jandriel Heredia Lynn, Mass. Pending Federal Case Sept. 2, 2023 Abraham Diaz Lynn, Mass. Pending Federal Case Dec. 27, 2023 Kyle Mel Lynn, Mass. Pending Federal Case Dec. 27, 2023 Isaiah Acevedo Lynn, Mass. Pending Federal Case Sept. 13, 2025 Hugo Del Rosario Lawrence, Mass. Pending Federal Case
Source: U.S. Attorney’s Office — Massachusetts — U.S. Department of Justice press release.