{"id":2588876,"date":"2026-04-09T11:52:01","date_gmt":"2026-04-09T15:52:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/blanche-approves-death-penalty-for-ms-13-gang-members-in-witness-killing\/"},"modified":"2026-04-09T11:54:10","modified_gmt":"2026-04-09T15:54:10","slug":"blanche-approves-death-penalty-for-ms-13-gang-members-in-witness-killing","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/blanche-approves-death-penalty-for-ms-13-gang-members-in-witness-killing\/","title":{"rendered":"Blanche approves death penalty for MS-13 gang members in witness killing"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">22<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fblanche-approves-death-penalty-for-ms-13-gang-members-in-witness-killing%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2588876&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche has authorized federal prosecutors to pursue the death penalty against three MS-13 members accused of murdering a cooperating witness in Los Angeles. In a memo, Blanche directed First Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli to seek capital punishment for Roberto Carlos Aguilar, Dennis Anaya Urias, and Grevil Zelaya Santiago, who face federal murder-in-aid-of-racketeering charges. Prosecutors say the victim, who had been cooperating wiht authorities, was targeted after being \u201cgreen-lit\u201d by MS-13 to avoid discipline and to elevate the gangsters\u2019 status. The February 18, 2025 killing occurred at a South Los Angeles grocery store, with Urias and Santiago allegedly carrying out the shooting after an earlier encounter with Aguilar. All three defendants face a federal offense that carries a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/breaking-president-trump-gives-pardons-to-73-individuals-and-commutes-another-70-sentences-steve-bannon-is-included\/\" title=\"BREAKING: President Trump Gives Pardons to 73 Individuals and Commutes Another 70 Sentences \u2013 Steve Bannon Is Included\">mandatory life sentence<\/a> and makes them eligible for the death penalty if convicted. Aguilar is identified as an illegal immigrant from El Salvador, Urias as a legal permanent resident, and Santiago has a pending visa application. They appeared in federal court in Los Angeles and were detained without bond; arraignments are scheduled for June 3. Blanche\u2019s decision follows the ouster of Pam Bondi, and the death-penalty suggestion requires an internal review before it reaches the <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >attorney general<\/a> for final approval.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche seeks death penalty for three MS-13 gang members<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_2551350\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p>Acting Attorney General <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/todd-blanche\/\">Todd Blanche<\/a> has authorized federal prosecutors to seek the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/death-penalty\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"1427\">death penalty <\/a>against three alleged <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/ms-13\/\">MS-13 gang members<\/a> accused of executing a cooperating witness in <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/los-angeles\/\">Los Angeles<\/a>, marking one of his first major enforcement decisions since taking over the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/department-of-justice\/\">Justice Department<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>In a memo dated Wednesday and obtained by the <em>Washington Examiner<\/em>, Blanche directed First Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Central District of California <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/3867363\/judge-disqualifies-trump-appointed-us-attorney-for-unlawfully-serving-in-role\/\">Bill Essayli<\/a> to pursue capital punishment for Roberto Carlos Aguilar, Dennis Anaya Urias, and Grevil Zelaya Santiago. The three men are charged in federal complaints with murder in aid of racketeering for the killing of a victim who had been assisting authorities in a federal case.<\/p>\n<p>Blanche&rsquo;s decision on Wednesday followed former Attorney General <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/white-house\/4514649\/trump-next-firings-bondi-cabinet-shakeup\/\" type=\"post\" id=\"4514649\">Pam Bondi&rsquo;s abrupt ouster <\/a>last week. A source told the <em>Washington Examiner<\/em> that Bondi dragged her feet on making a decision over whether to seek the death penalty and that the matter therefore got stuck in an administrative bottleneck.<\/p>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Acting U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli, foreground, speaks during a news conference announcing an arrest made in the Palisades Fire, Wednesday, Oct. 8, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo\/Damian Dovarganes)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Prosecutors say the victim had been <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/lamag.com\/news\/confidential-informant-whacked-by-ms-13-in-south-l-a-while-on-phone-with-fbi-handler\/\">&ldquo;green lit&rdquo;<\/a> by the MS-13 gang, formally known as Mara Salvatrucha-13, after his cooperation with law enforcement became known within the organization. That designation effectively marked him for death.<\/p>\n<p>According to <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.justice.gov\/usao-cdca\/pr\/three-ms-13-members-charged-federal-complaints-alleging-they-murdered-cooperating\">public records<\/a>, Urias, 26, and Santiago, 25, allegedly carried out the shooting at a grocery store in South Los Angeles on Feb. 18, 2025. Roughly an hour before the killing, the victim encountered Aguilar, 30, inside the store, an interaction investigators say set in motion the events that led to the shooting.<\/p>\n<p>Authorities say the victim called law enforcement twice that evening, warning that MS-13 members had just attempted to kill him after a gun malfunctioned. During the second call, multiple gunshots could be heard in the background, according to the Justice Department.<\/p>\n<p>All three defendants have been charged with murder in aid of racketeering, a federal offense that carries a mandatory life sentence and makes them eligible for the death penalty if convicted. Prosecutors allege the killing was carried out to avoid discipline within the gang or to elevate the defendants&rsquo; status.<\/p>\n<p><strong><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/4519178\/blanche-rolls-out-fraud-crackdown-in-first-remarks-since-bondi-ouster\/\">BLANCHE ROLLS OUT FRAUD CRACKDOWN IN FIRST REMARKS SINCE BONDI OUSTER<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Aguilar, identified in court documents as an <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/illegal-immigrants\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"1972\">illegal immigrant<\/a> from El Salvador, is charged in a separate complaint, while Urias is a legal permanent resident and Santiago has a pending visa application. The three men made initial appearances in federal court in Los Angeles, where a magistrate judge ordered them detained without bond. Their arraignments are scheduled for June 3.<\/p>\n<p>Making a final recommendation on the death penalty involves a thorough internal review process before it makes it to the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/mi-lawmakers-just-made-it-easier-to-commit-election-fraud\/\" title=\"MI Lawmakers Simplify Process for Election Fraud\">attorney general&#038;rsquo<\/a>;s desk for final determination.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Blanche seeks death penalty for three MS-13 members<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2633,"featured_media":2588877,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/AP26030678088049-e1774623874277.jpg?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[25914,72882,12411],"class_list":["post-2588876","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","tag-blanche","tag-death-penalty-2","tag-ms-13"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/AP26030678088049-e1774623874277.jpg?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2588876","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2633"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2588876"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2588876\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2588880,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2588876\/revisions\/2588880"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2588877"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2588876"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2588876"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2588876"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}