A gang member of La Mara Salvatrucha, also known as the MS-13, has pleaded guilty to racketeering and firearms charges in connection to four murders, in federal court in Central Islip on Thursday, Aug. 31.
Enrique Portillo, also known as “Oso” and “Turkey,” participated in the September 13, 2016 murders of teenagers Kayla Cuevas and Nisa Mickens; the October 13, 2016 murder of Dewann Stacks; and the January 30, 2017 murder of Esteban Alvarado-Bonilla in Central Islip. Portillo also participated in four attempted murders, including the discharge of a .40 caliber semi-automatic handgun in connection with one of the attempted murders; and arson.
When sentenced, Portillo faces up to life in prison on the racketeering charge and a 10-year mandatory minimum sentence on the firearms charge.
"Today, the defendant pleaded guilty to participating in four extremely brutal murders, including two teenage girls slaughtered while walking home, that have left permanent scars in the Brentwood community which for too long has suffered acts of violence and destruction carried out by the MS-13 with machetes, knives, guns and fire,” said United States Attorney Breon Peace. “I am confident that justice for the victims will be delivered when Portillo is sentenced for his savage crimes. This Office will not rest until all MS-13 gang members are held to account for their utter lack of respect for human life and the rule of law.”
Two of Portillo's attempted murder charges took place in Brooklyn, the first on Sept. 26, 2017, at a federal prison. While Portillo was in federal custody at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn, MS-13 members were regularly having altercations with members of a rival gang, the Young Gunnaz. On Sept. 26, Portillo encountered a YGz member and tried to kill him by using a shank to stab him in the neck and by beating him with metal locks tied to a braided bed sheet. The YGz member survived the attack.
The second attempted murder took place on May 30, 2019, while Portillo was in federal custody at the MDC in Brooklyn. Portillo encountered a member of the Bloods street gang in his unit’s common area, then tried to kill him by stabbing him with a shank. The Bloods street gang member survived the attack.
“As part of his desire to gain status within MS-13, Portillo repeatedly acted with complete disregard for human life, killing four individuals along with multiple other attempts. Today’s guilty plea stands as a warning to anyone willing to attempt to gain standing through senseless acts of violence — you will face the consequences. The FBI Long Island Gang Task 2 Force will not allow vicious criminals to go unchecked and cause our community to live in fear of violence,” said FBI Assistant Director-in-Charge Smith.
Today’s conviction is 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. The MS-13’s leadership is based in El Salvador, Honduras, Guatemala and Mexico, but the gang has thousands of members across the United States. With numerous branches, the MS-13 is the most violent criminal organization operating on Long Island.
