Alexi Saenz, a high-ranking member of the notorious MS-13 gang, pleaded guilty on Wednesday to racketeering charges connected to eight murders on Long Island, New York. The plea was entered in federal court in Central Islip, marking a significant development in a case that has drawn national attention.
Saenz, 29, faces between 40 and 70 years in prison as part of a plea agreement. Among the victims were two teenage girls, Kayla Cuevas, 16, and Nisa Mickens, 15, whose brutal murders in September 2016 shocked the community and brought renewed focus to gang violence in the area.
U.S. Attorney Breon Peace of the Eastern District of New York stated, “To say that Alexi Saenz’s hands are drenched in blood does not begin to describe the multiple killings and extreme mayhem he personally directed and committed in the span of one year in Suffolk County.”
The murders of Cuevas and Mickens gained national prominence when then-President Donald Trump highlighted their case during his 2018 State of the Union address. Prosecutors said the girls were targeted after a series of disputes with MS-13 members at Brentwood High School.
Saenz, also known as “Blasty” and “Big Homie,” was the leader of an MS-13 clique operating in Brentwood and Central Islip. The gang, which originated in Los Angeles in the 1980s, has become notorious for its brutal tactics and widespread influence across the United States and Central America.
In addition to the murders of Cuevas and Mickens, Saenz admitted to involvement in six other killings between 2016 and 2017. The victims were reportedly suspected by MS-13 of being affiliated with rival gangs.
The plea agreement comes after years of legal proceedings. Initially, prosecutors had sought the death penalty for Saenz and his brother, Jairo Saenz, but Attorney General Merrick Garland reversed this decision in 2023.
Suffolk County Police Department acting Commissioner Robert E. Waring called Saenz’s crimes “senseless and barbaric,” adding that the guilty plea demonstrates the commitment to dismantling criminal enterprises like MS-13.
The case highlights ongoing efforts by law enforcement to combat gang violence on Long Island and across the country. According to the FBI, MS-13 has thousands of members across the United States, with a significant presence in immigrant communities.
As the community continues to grapple with the aftermath of these violent crimes, Saenz’s guilty plea represents a step towards justice for the victims and their families. Sentencing is scheduled for January 31, 2025, where the full extent of Saenz’s punishment will be determined.
Citations:
[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MS-13
[2] https://abcnews.go.com/US/high-ranking-ms-13-gang-member-alexi-saenz/story?id=111810923
[3] https://longisland.news12.com/ms-13-leader-pleads-guilty-in-case-involving-8-murders-including-deaths-of-2-girls-on-long-island
[4] https://insightcrime.org/el-salvador-organized-crime-news/mara-salvatrucha-ms-13-profile/
[5] https://www.justice.gov/usao-edny/pr/high-ranking-ms-13-gang-leader-pleads-guilty-eight-murders-multiple-attempted-murders
[6] https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/ms-13-gang-member-pleads-guilty-in-killing-of-4-young-men-on-long-island-in-2017/5289763/
[7] https://www.ojp.gov/ncjrs/virtual-library/abstracts/ms-13-gang-profile
Last modified: June 20, 2025
