MS-13 Gangster Convicted of 2014 Murder in Holmes Run Park

FAIRFAX COUNTY, VA -- Douglas Duran Cerritos, 20, of Falls Church, was convicted Thursday by a federal jury for his role in a gang murder in Northern Virginia, the U.S. Justice Department, Eastern District of Virginia announced Friday.

Here's an account of the brutal murder from the announcement: According to court records and evidence presented at trial, on March 29, 2014, Cerritos and six other gang members murdered Gerson Adoni Martinez Aguilar, a gang recruit, for breaking gang rules. The gang members lured the victim to Holmes Run Park and brutally killed him by stabbing him repeatedly in the back and the neck, ultimately severing his head. When they were done they buried him in a shallow grave in the park. Cerritos was their leader, and he both planned and directed the murder.

A total of 13 defendants were charged in this case for a series of three murders and one attempted murder that took place in Northern Virginia between October 2013 and June 2014. Of those, six defendants pleaded guilty prior to trial. The remaining six went to trial and were convicted of all charges on May 9. Each defendant convicted at trial faces a mandatory sentence of life in prison.

• Pedro Anthony Romero Cruz; age 30; convicted of Conspiracy to Commit Murder in Aid of Racketeering; Possession of a Firearm During a Crime of Violence; sentenced to 30 years
• Jose Lopez Torres; age 26, resident of Falls Church; convicted of Conspiracy, Attempted, and Murder in Aid of Racketeering; Possession of a Firearm During a Crime of Violence; received life sentence plus 20 years
• Jaime Rosales Villegas, age 31, resident of Richmond; convicted of Conspiracy and Attempted Murder in Aid of Racketeering; Possession of a Firearm During a Crime of Violence; sentenced to 22 years and 8 months
• Juan Carlos Marquez Ayala; age 23, resident of Falls Church; convicted of Murder in Aid of Racketeering; Life sentence
• Omar Dejesus Castillo; age 27, resident of Arlington; convicted of Two Counts of Murder in Aid of Racketeering; sentenced to Two life sentences
• Alvin Gaitan Benitez; age 23, resident of Falls Church; convicted of Murder in Aid of Racketeering, Accessory After the Fact Facing mandatory life sentence plus additional time
• Christian Lemus Cerna; age 20, resident of Falls Church; convicted of Murder in Aid of Racketeering; Facing mandatory life sentence
• Araely Santiago Villanueva; age 20, resident of Falls Church; convicted of Two Counts of Murder in Aid of Racketeering; Life sentence
• Manuel Ernesto Paiz Guevara; age 21, resident of Falls Church; convicted of Murder in Aid of Racketeering; Facing mandatory life sentence
• Jose Del Cid; age 20, resident of Alexandria; convicted of Two Counts of Murder in Aid of Racketeering; sentenced to two life sentences
• Jesus Alejandro Chavez; age 26, resident of Alexandria; convicted of Murder in Aid of Racketeering; Use of a Firearm During a Crime of Violence Resulting in Death; Felon in Possession of a Firearm; Two life sentences plus 10 years
• Genaro Sen Garcia; age 21, residency unknown; convicted of Murder in Aid of Racketeering; Life sentence

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