In a landmark plea deal, MS-13 leader Jairo Saenz has evaded the death penalty thanks to an apparent sweetheart deal from the Biden administration.
Fox News reported that Saenz, a leader of the notorious and brutally violent MS-13 gang, will receive a sentence ranging from 40 to 60 years, bypassing the extreme sentences initially sought by the previous Trump administration.
Jairo Saenz, who has admitted to taking part in at least seven killings, will not face the death penalty, or life imprisonment.
By accepting a plea deal, Saenz will serve a federal prison sentence between 40 to 60 years.
This controversial decision has attracted criticism from both law enforcement and community members who consider the punishment insufficient given the severity of his crimes.
Saenz and his brother, Alexi Saenz, were leaders of a particularly vicious faction of MS-13 known as the Sailors in Suffolk County, New York.
Their reign of terror included the infamous 2016 high-profile murders of Kayla Cuevas and Nisa Mickens, high school students from Brentwood. This brutal act was triggered after one of the girls criticized the gang on social media, specifically Facebook.
Kayla Cuevas and Nisa Mickens became tragic symbols of MS-13's ruthless tactics when their lives were cut short due to the gang's violent response. Following these murders, Suffolk County police cooperated with federal agencies to address the widening MS-13 issue, partnering in a nationwide crackdown initiated under then-President Trump.
During this period, the federal government intensified its efforts against MS-13, marking a pivotal escalation in the approach to curbing gang violence.
While President Trump and former Attorney General Bill Barr had initially pushed for the death penalty for the Saenz brothers, the landscape changed under a directive from the Attorney General in 2023, reflecting on Biden's halt on federal executions since 2021.
This decision not to pursue capital punishment has prompted various reactions. Law enforcement officials, like Lou Civello, have expressed strong dissatisfaction, describing the plea deal as "disgraceful" and an insult to the affected families. Civello argued that those responsible for such "barbaric" acts should never be able to re-enter society.
Acknowledging the broader implications, Robert Capers remarked on MS-13's history of dispensing its own version of a death sentence, as their violent episodes continually inject fear into communities. Additionally, the plea deal faced scrutiny from legal experts such as David Gelman, who criticized it as excessively lenient.
Gelman pointed out the gang members might be released earlier than their already negotiated sentences. This scenario is concerning for those who have seen the community impact of MS-13's actions firsthand.
The decision to proceed with a plea deal rather than a prolonged trial potentially reflects multiple factors.
Beyond legal strategy, opting for a plea might conserve judicial resources and spare the victims' families further trauma associated with a high-profile trial. Nonetheless, the affected parties and observers remain divided on this rationale.
Jairo Saenz's brother, Alexi, had previously accepted a plea deal with a 70-year sentence, exceeding Jairo's anticipated prison term.
The patterns of violence and leadership roles within MS-13 have left indelible marks on Suffolk County, necessitating decisive law enforcement actions.
The broader context of MS-13's activities, characterized by calculated attacks and unclear affiliations of targets, has heightened the tension around handling gang leaders like the Saenz brothers. An example of such senseless violence includes the killing of Esteban Alvarado-Bonilla in a deli, which also resulted in bystander injuries.
