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Leader of Violent Gang Sentenced for Role in 5 Murders
< < Back toCOLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Authorities say the leader of a violent gang has been sentenced to life in prison for his role in the killings of five people.
U.S. Attorney Benjamin Glassman says defendant Martin Neftali Aguilar-Rivera directed the central Ohio branch of the El Salvador-based MS-13 gang from 2015 to 2017.
Glassman says gang members became more organized, more ruthless and more violent under the leadership of the 34-year-old Aguilar-Rivera, who was sentenced Wednesday.
Defense attorney Diane Menashe called the outcome a just sentence given that Aguilar-Rivera faced the possibility of the death penalty. She said he accepted responsibility for his crimes.
Aguilar-Rivera was among 29 individuals charged in central Ohio recent years in a racketeering conspiracy including murder, attempted murder, assault, drug trafficking, money laundering and other charges.