Alexi Saenz, a high-ranking member of the MS-13 gang, pleaded guilty in federal court in Central Islip on Wednesday to eight murders.
Among the deaths, Saenz pleaded guilty to killing two Long Island teenagers — 16-year-old Kayla Cuevas and 15-year-old Nisa Mickens — in 2016.
Officials previously said they believe the murders arose from disputes Cuevas and her friends had with members of MS-13 at Brentwood High School.
Saenz, along with several other suspected MS-13 gang members, were arrested for the teens’ deaths in 2017. Charges against his brother, Jairo Saenz, who was also arrested at the time, remain pending.
“The murders, particularly of these two girls, young ladies, were particularly heinous,” Robert Capers, then–U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of New York, said at a news conference following their 2017 arrest. “They were beaten to death in the street with machetes and bats over seemingly nothing and left in the streets or in the backyard of a house to die. These were terribly heinous crimes.”
Prosecutors initially sought the death penalty for the two Saenz brothers, but Attorney General Merrick Garland said in 2023 they would no longer do so.
In this Oct. 24, 2016 file photo, a poster displayed at a Suffolk County police precinct in Bay Shore, N.Y., offers a $15,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of the person(s) responsible for the slayings of Nisa Mickens and her lifelong friend Kayla Cuevas.
Michael Balsamo/AP
The murders of the two girls garnered national attention, with then-President Donald Trump inviting their parents to the 2018 State of the Union.
“Here tonight are two fathers and two mothers: Evelyn Rodriguez, Freddy Cuevas, Elizabeth Alvarado, and Robert Mickens,” Trump said during his speech. “Their two teenage daughters — Kayla Cuevas and Nisa Mickens — were close friends on Long Island. But in September 2016, on the eve of Nisa’s16th birthday, neither of them came home. These two precious girls were brutally murdered while walking together in their hometown. Six members of the savage gang MS-13 have been charged with Kayla and Nisa’s murders.”
A member of the notorious MS-13 gang has recently admitted guilt in the murders of eight individuals, including two teenage girls from Long Island. This revelation has shed light on the brutal and violent nature of this criminal organization, which has been responsible for numerous heinous crimes across the United States.
The defendant, who has been identified as a high-ranking member of MS-13, confessed to his involvement in the murders during a court hearing. According to prosecutors, the killings were carried out as part of a gang initiation ritual, aimed at proving the defendant’s loyalty and dedication to MS-13.
The victims of these senseless murders include two teenage girls from Long Island, whose lives were tragically cut short by the defendant and his accomplices. The families of these young girls have been left devastated by their loss, and are struggling to come to terms with the brutal nature of their deaths.
The case highlights the ruthless and violent tactics employed by MS-13, a gang known for its brutality and disregard for human life. The organization has been linked to a number of high-profile crimes in recent years, including drug trafficking, human smuggling, and extortion.
Law enforcement officials have been working tirelessly to dismantle MS-13 and bring its members to justice. The guilty plea from the defendant in this case is a significant step towards holding these dangerous criminals accountable for their actions.
The tragic deaths of these eight individuals serve as a stark reminder of the devastating impact that gang violence can have on communities. It is imperative that law enforcement agencies continue to work together to combat the influence of gangs like MS-13 and protect innocent individuals from falling victim to their violent acts.
As the legal proceedings in this case move forward, the families of the victims are left to grapple with the pain and loss caused by these senseless murders. It is our hope that justice will be served for all those affected by this tragedy, and that steps will be taken to prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future.
