BOSTON – A member of the Lynn Chapter of the Trinitarios has pleaded guilty to racketeering charges, including his participation in two murders and two other attempted murders.
Michael Miliano, also known as “Trucho,” 23, pleaded guilty on Dec. 15, 2025, to conspiracy to conduct enterprise affairs through a pattern of racketeering activity, more commonly referred to as RICO conspiracy. U.S. Senior District Court Judge Nathaniel M. Gorton scheduled sentencing for March 19, 2026. Miliano was arrested and charged in February 2025, and was alleged to have participated in the murder of Jandriel Heredia and Abraham Diaz in September 2023.
The Trinitarios is a violent criminal enterprise comprised of thousands of members across the United States. The Trinitarios adhere to a Magna Carta, employ an internal hierarchy to organize and execute violence, and undertake extensive efforts to maintain the secrecy of the organization and its members.
In February 2025, federal racketeering charges were unsealed against 22 leaders and members of the Trinitarios. The charges were the result of a multijurisdictional investigation, dubbed Operation Paper Machetes, which began in the aftermath of four murders as well as a series of attempted murders and shootings that took place in Lynn in 2023, allegedly committed by the Trinitarios criminal enterprise and its members. In March 2025, a Lynn member of the Trinitarios was sentenced to 10 years in prison. In June 2025, two members of the Trinitarios were charged with kidnapping a drug supplier. In July 2025, the leader of the Lynn Chapter was sentenced to 14 years in prison. Miliano is the seventh Defendant to plead guilty.
During court proceedings, Miliano admitted to his membership in the gang and participation in three shootings where the Trinitarios intended to kill rival gang members. The first incident took place in May 2023, where Miliano and other members of the Trinitarios proceeded to rival gang territory in Lynn and discharged numerous rounds at rival gang members. Miliano fired during this shooting.
The second incident took in August 2023, following the death of a Trinitario member, who was believed to have been killed by a rival gang member. For this incident, Miliano and five other Trinitarios set out to ambush and kill rival gang members who were at a music studio in Lynn. Miliano also fired during this incident.
Miliano also admitted to his participation in the Sept. 2, 2023 murder of Jandriel Heredia and Abraham Diaz. Miliano met with other Trinitario members prior to the shooting and learning about the plan to kill a rival gang member who the Trinitarios believed was present at a party in Lynn. The rival gang member was not, in fact, present at the party. Miliano admitted to driving by the party a number of times, and relaying information about what he observed as he drove by to the other Trinitarios knowing that it would be used by the other members to further their plan to murder rival gang members. Later that night, members of the Trinitarios drove by the party and discharged numerous rounds at the people gathered outside celebrating a recent graduation. Seven people were shot during this incident, and Abraham Diaz and Jandriel Heredia later died from the gunshot wounds they sustained. None of the victims at the party were members of a gang.
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. 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; Michael J. Krol, Special Agent in Charge, Homeland Security Investigations in New England; Ted Docks, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division; Essex County District Attorney Paul F. Tucker; Massachusetts State Police Colonel Geoffrey D. Noble; and Lynn Police Chief Christopher P. Reddy made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Philip A. Mallard of the Organized Crime & Gang Unit is prosecuting the case.
