In a significant criminal announcement on Wednesday, Leah Foley, the newly appointed U.S. Attorney for the District of Massachusetts, revealed that the federal government has indicted 22 individuals belonging to a transnational gang. This gang has been responsible for inflicting “years of bloodshed, trafficking, and lawlessness” in the North Shore Communities.
On Wednesday, law enforcement apprehended eight individuals who are believed to be part of the Trinitarios gang. Among those arrested was Enmanuel Paula-Cabral, who is referred to as the “State Supreme” within the gang.
Gang members accused in murders
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The feds allege the gang was involved in a number of murders and attempted murders that caused havoc in Lynn and Lawrence, including a mass shooting at a college send-off party in Lynn in 2023, an attempted murder at a Pizza Hut in Lynn, the murder of two teens in Lynn in 2023, the murder of a teenage boy in Lawrence in 2017, and the murder of a 25-year-old woman in Lawrence.
Federal investigators have revealed that the gang profited from the trafficking of fentanyl and cocaine from Mexico. The indictment against the defendants spans over 300 pages and provides extensive evidence, including videos showcasing the drugs, music videos featuring the gang, and surveillance footage capturing the acts of violence.
“Magna Carta” for membership
According to U.S. Attorney Foley, the gang was found to have a well-structured leadership hierarchy, complete with its own membership guidelines referred to as the “Magna Carta.” Prospective members were required to carry out a violent act as instructed by the group’s leaders in order to gain entry. Upon induction, they were presented with a distinctive set of beads in various colors, depending on their membership status.
Accused of recruiting at schools
Foley further stated that the gang recruited young adolescents from Lawrence and Lynn High Schools to join. “Children,” Foley clarified. “They lacked the moral compass to say, ‘No, we can’t go there; we must only go where the evil people are. “They cast a wide net.”
The FBI, local police departments, Massachusetts State Police, the Essex County District Attorney’s Office, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office collaborated in the investigation. Currently, eight of the defendants have made their initial appearances and are currently being held without bail. Two defendants are in the process of being extradited from Honduras, while one defendant remains at large.
“What these individuals are accused of doing to their victims is horrific,” said Kimberly Milka, the FBI Special Agent in Charge. “No one should have to fear being shot in cold blood when going out to dinner, to the store, or simply hanging out inside of their own home.”
The gang’s complete elimination has not been achieved, despite efforts spanning multiple countries. Foley emphasized the significance of targeting their leadership, stating that it creates and has indeed created a void. He firmly believes that removing these leaders disrupts their ability to order murders, seek revenge, and intimidate witnesses.