MS-13 Gang Member Sentenced to 35 Years in Prison for Murder on Subway Platform in Queens

Today, in federal court in Brooklyn, Victor Lopez, also known as “Curioso,” a member of the Indios Locos Salvatruchas clique of La Mara Salvatrucha, also known as the MS-13, was sentenced by United States District Judge LaShann DeArcy Hall to 35 years in prison for his participation in the murder of Abel Mosso in 2019 on a crowded No. 7 subway train platform in Jackson Heights, Queens.  Lopez, an El Salvadoran national, pleaded guilty in February 2025 to racketeering and causing Mosso’s death through the use of a firearm and has consented to be deported upon completion of his term of imprisonment. He is the fifth defendant convicted of Mosso’s murder to be sentenced. 

Joseph Nocella, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, James C. Barnacle, Jr., Assistant Director in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office (FBI), Pete Gizas, Acting Special Agent in Charge, Homeland Security Investigations, New York (HSI New York), and Jessica S. Tisch, Commissioner, New York City Police Department (NYPD), announced the sentence.

“The defendant is deservedly punished for participating in a targeted killing of a perceived gang rival that was carried out in broad daylight on a subway platform, which also endangered the lives of numerous bystanders going about their business,” stated United States Attorney Nocella.  “It is a priority of the Administration and our Office to eradicate local and transnational gangs that operate with no regard for human life.  The substantial prison sentences imposed on the defendants responsible for this brutal murder make our communities safer.”

Mr. Nocella also thanked the Queens County District Attorney’s Office for their valuable coordination with the investigation.

“MS-13 member Victor Lopez participated in the public execution of a perceived rival with complete disregard for human life or innocent New Yorkers. May today's sentence reflect the FBI New York Safe Streets Task Force’s commitment to working with our federal and local partners to eliminate gang violence that plagues our communities with senseless crime and murder,” stated FBI Assistant Director in Charge Barnacle.

 “Few acts demonstrate more brazen depravity than an execution-style ambush carried out in front of terrified commuters on a crowded subway platform, with these MS-13 members openly announcing their intent to kill.  This cold-blooded murder was designed to send a message of fear to the public and to show that the gang believed it could operate with impunity.  Thanks to the relentless work of HSI New York and our law enforcement partners, these ruthless offenders are off the streets, our communities are safer, and we will continue to pursue any MS-13 member who threatens the people of this district,” stated HSI Acting Special Agent in Charge Gizas.

“The defendant, who is a member of the notorious MS-13 crew, participated in the cold-blooded murder of a rival on a crowded subway platform in Queens,” said NYPD Commissioner Tisch.  “Today’s sentencing decision reflects the ongoing efforts of NYPD investigators to take down violent gangs, remove guns from our streets, and keep communities safe. I am thankful to our partners at HSI, the FBI, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York for their hard work in this case.” 

On the afternoon of February 3, 2019, Lopez and fellow MS-13 members Ramiro Gutierrez, Tito Martinez-Alvarenga, Emerson Martinez-Lara, and Ismael Santos-Novoa went to the Flushing-Main Street subway station to locate and kill Mosso, whom they believed to be a member of the rival 18th Street gang.  Lopez, Gutierrez, and Martinez-Alvarenga followed Mosso onto the No. 7 train, while Santos Novoa and Martinez-Lara acted as lookouts for police.  On the train, Lopez and Martinez Alvarenga assaulted Mosso and then dragged him out onto the platform at 90th Street and Roosevelt Avenue station.  Lopez pulled out a gun, but Mosso wrestled it away.  When a crowd of people gathered around and tried to help Mosso, one of the defendants shouted in Spanish, “Nobody get involved, we’re MS-13, we’re going to kill him.”  Gutierrez then grabbed the gun from Mosso and shot him multiple times in the head, killing him.  Later, Lopez burned the clothing he was wearing during the attack to avoid detection by law enforcement.

Four defendants were previously sentenced for their participation in Mosso’s murder as well as other crimes committed on behalf of the MS-13.  Gutierrez and Martinez Alvarenga were sentenced to 55 years and 48 years in prison, respectively, for their participation in Mosso’s murder as well as the murder of Victor Alvarenga in 2018.  Santos Novoa was sentenced to 24 years in prison for his role as a lookout in Mosso’s killing, the nonfatal shooting of another victim, and other murder conspiracies.  Martinez-Lara was sentenced to 18 years in prison for his role as a lookout in Mosso’s murder and other murder conspiracies.   

These sentencings are the latest in a series of federal prosecutions by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York targeting members of the MS-13.  MS-13’s leadership was based in El Salvador and Honduras, but the gang has thousands of members across the United States.  Since 2003, hundreds of MS-13 members, including dozens of clique leaders, have been convicted on federal felony charges in the Eastern District of New York.  A majority of those MS-13 members have been convicted on federal racketeering charges for participating in murders, attempted murders and assaults.  Since 2010, this Office has obtained indictments charging MS-13 members with carrying out more than 75 murders in the district and has convicted dozens of MS-13 leaders and members in connection with those murders. These prosecutions are the product of investigations led by our law enforcement partners including HSI and the FBI’s Safe Streets Task Force, comprising agents and officers of the FBI and NYPD.

This prosecution is part of the Homeland Security Task Force initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion.  The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad.  Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of U.S. law enforcement towards identifying, investigating and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes these organizations commit, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States.  HSTF New York comprises agents and officers from HSI; the DEA; FBI; the New York City Police Department; IRS Criminal Investigation; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; U.S. Marshals Service; U.S. Postal Inspection Service; and U.S. Secret Service, with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York leading this prosecution.

The government’s case is being handled by the Office’s Organized Crime and Gangs Section. Assistant United States Attorneys Jonathan Siegel, Anna L. Karamigios, and Kam Ammari are in charge of the prosecution, with the assistance of Paralegal Specialists Timothy Migliaro and Danielle Barber.

The Defendant:

VICTOR LOPEZ (also known as “Curioso”)
Age:  27
Flushing, New York

Co-Defendants Previously Sentenced:

RAMIRO GUTIERREZ (also known as “Cara de Malo”)
Age:  33
Flushing, New York

TITO MARTINEZ-ALVARENGA (also known as “Imprudente”)
Age:  26
Flushing, New York

ISMAEL SANTOS-NOVOA (also known as “Profe”)
Age:  37
Flushing, New York

EMERSON MARTINEZ-LARA (also known as “Fugitivo”)
Age:  27
College Point, New York

E.D.N.Y. Docket No. 20-CR-228 (S-3) (LDH)