LYNN — Twenty-four leaders, members and associates of the Trinitarios gang — a violent transnational criminal organization — have been arrested after allegedly terrorizing the North Shore for over a decade.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Massachusetts, announced the unsealed charges during a press conference Wednesday morning. They noted this gang has had a heavy influence on the North Shore, especially in Lynn. The charges are the result of a multijurisdictional investigation that began in the aftermath of four murders as well as a series of attempted murders and shootings that took place in Lynn in 2023.
Lynn Police Lt. Rick Connick confirmed the alleged murders that initiated this major bust were the Essex Street double murder and the Camden Street shooting that took the lives of two teenagers.
“The development of the Trinitarios as an increasingly violent organization has plagued our region for years. The eruption of gang violence in Lynn in 2023 was particularly tragic. Nothing will replace the losses of Abraham Diaz, Jandriel Heredia, Kyle Mel, and Isaiah Acevedo, or change how many lives were forever impacted by such heinous acts,” Lynn Mayor Jared C. Nicholson said in a statement posted on his Facebook page.
“Knowing that the affected families’ and our community’s calls for justice have been answered and that those responsible will be held accountable is incredibly significant,” Nicholson continued. “I greatly appreciate the tireless efforts of the Lynn Police Department and other law enforcement agencies that were involved in making this moment possible and the support that those efforts have received from our community. These investigative breakthroughs are an essential component of the mission that all of us share to effectuate peace in our community.”
Chapters of the Trinitarios were identified in Lawrence, Lynn, Boston and Haverhill. Members in these cities allegedly undertake efforts to dominate their communities by intimidating rival gangs and establishing control over certain neighborhoods.
Additionally, each Chapter has a “Cabinet” of leaders who are responsible for recruiting new members, providing discipline to members in violation of the gang’s directives and collecting money into a communal account used to support illegal operations as well as incarcerated members and their families. They are also accused of recruiting new members among communities from the Dominican Republic — specifically juveniles in local high schools in Lawrence and Lynn. They targeted both legal and illegal immigrants for recruitment.
Twenty-two individuals have been charged with federal offenses, including racketeering conspiracy in connection with six murders and 11 attempted murders. Two others, who were juveniles at the time of the alleged criminal offenses, have been charged by the Essex County District Attorney’s Office with murder.
“This enforcement action ends the Trinitarios reign of terror in Massachusetts. Today, our communities are safer with the removal of these alleged violent offenders from our streets, and where appropriate, from our country. This operation is a testament to the tireless collaboration among the dedicated members of our federal, state and local law enforcement agencies. Such shameless and senseless acts of violence have no place anywhere; especially not in any city in Massachusetts. If you threaten the safety of our residents, we will find you, we will hold you accountable, and we will ensure that justice is served,” said United States Attorney Leah B. Foley.
Those arrested with charges from the U.S. Attorney’s Office and unsealed Wednesday are:
Justin “Tuto/Mimi” Alba, 25, from the Lynn chapter, is charged with RICO conspiracy and murder; Darwin “El Ply” Batista, 21, from the Lynn chapter, is charged with RICO conspiracy with murder; Janoy “El Viejo” Batista, 34, from the Lynn chapter, is charged with RICO conspiracy; Aaron “Sosa” Diaz Liranzo, 26, leader #1 of the Lynn chapter, is charged with RICO conspiracy; Luis “Chiquito/Young LS” Enrique Santana, 30, from the Lynn chapter, is charged with RICO conspiracy; David “Bambino” Garcia, 23, from the Lynn chapter, is charged with RICO conspiracy with murder; Israel “Menol/Menor” Garcia Vasquez, 23, from the Lynn chapter, is charged with RICO conspiracy; Luis “Sopita” Jeffrey Santana, 27, primera number one of the Manchester chapter, is charged with RICO conspiracy; James Jimenez, 25, from the Lynn chapter, is charged with RICO conspiracy with murder; Ery “Jordani/Racacha” Jordani Rosario, 32, second-in-command, is charged with RICO conspiracy; Westyn “Wes/Muddy/Wes Trippy” Lantigua, 24, from the Lynn chapter, is charged with RICO conspiracy; Michael “Trucho” Miliano, 22, from the Lynn chapter, is charged with RICO conspiracy with murder; Enmanuel “Nelfew/Gordo/Manny/Few” Paula-Cabral, 33, the state supreme leader, is charged with RICO conspiracy with murder; Carlos Javier “Kreepy” Ramirez Cornielle, 16, is charged with RICO with murder; Kelvin Liranzo “Woopty” Roman, 25, from the Lynn chapter, is charged with RICO conspiracy with murder; Warly Ruiz, 30, from the Lynn chapter, is charged with RICO conspiracy with murder; Tomy “Manito Bello” Sanchez Tejeda, 35, leader #3 of the Lynn chapter, is charged with RICO conspiracy with murder; Angel “Biggie/Big Boy” Santos, 25, known as the security officer, is charged with RICO conspiracy with murder; Abel “Riko/Indio” Severino Reyes, 21, from the Lynn chapter, is charged with RICO conspiracy with murder; Elvis “Honduras” Trujillo, 27, from the Lawrence chapter, is charged with RICO conspiracy with murder; Yeferson “Illuminati” Vallecillo Cambar, 23, from the Lynn chapter, is charged with RICO conspiracy with murder; and Wilving “Bolu” Lopez, 24, from the Lynn chapter, is charged with RICO conspiracy.
Those arrested with charges from the Essex County District Attorney’s Office are Leonardo “Pinina” Espinoza, 15, and Robert “Petete” Severino, who is 25 and from the Lawrence chapter. They are both charged with murder.
Those arrested with previously unsealed charges from the U.S. Attorney’s Office are:
Eric “Maniactico/MT” Rosario, 26, from the Lawrence chapter, is charged with Hobbs Act robbery; Robert “Piccarine” Santana, 29, from the Lawrence chapter, is charged with Hobbs Act robbery; Rosnel “Jai” Polanco, 26, from the Lawrence chapter, is charged with Hobbs Act robbery; and Ricardo “Rico from the Sin” Bratini-Perez, 26, from the Lynn chapter, is charged with drug offenses.
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, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office. The charge of conspiracy to interfere with commerce by robbery (Hobbs Act conspiracy) provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. 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.
