MS-13 Member Sentenced to Life in Federal Prison for Participating in Two Murders of Fellow Gangsters
MS-13 Member Sentenced to Life in Federal Prison for Participating in Two Murders of Fellow Gangsters
For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, Central District of California LOS ANGELES – A ranking member of a San Fernando Valley-based wing of the transnational criminal organization Mara Salvatrucha 13 (MS-13) was sentenced today to life in federal prison for participating in two murders of MS-13 associates who violated gang rules and were taken to remote areas of Los Angeles County, where they were killed.
Walter Chavez Larin, 27, a.k.a. “Delito,” of Panorama City, was sentenced by United States District Judge Stanley Blumenfeld, Jr. to life in prison.
At the conclusion of a nine-week trial, a jury in November 2025 found Chavez guilty of one count of racketeering conspiracy and two counts of violent crimes in aid of racketeering (VICAR) murder. Four other defendants were convicted during this trial.
According to evidence presented at trial, Chavez and his co-defendants murdered their victims who had violated MS-13 rules. The trial centered on MS-13 Los Angeles cliques that implemented gang rules that required its members to use murder to rise within its ranks.
In June 2017, a victim – identified in court documents as “E.H.” – who allegedly overstated his position in the gang. The victim was confronted by Chavez and other MS-13 gang members at an abandoned property, known as a “destroyer,” disarmed of his machete, and assaulted the victim. The victim was taken to Angeles National Forest, where he was stabbed and hacked to death. Several MS-13 members tried decapitating him but found it too difficult. They doused the body with rubbing alcohol under the belief it destroyed forensic evidence. After murdering E.H., they eventually threw the victim’s body over a ridge.
In January 2019, another victim – identified in court documents as “O.F” – who was a teenager targeted by MS-13. Chavez put a “green light” on this victim, meaning the victim should be killed on sight for disobeying gang rules.
The victim was taken from a North Hollywood park to Santa Clarita where he was executed by MS-13 members, including Edwin Martinez and Carlos Daniel Orellana, under the direction of Chavez.
Martinez, who was convicted at trial with Chavez of one count of racketeering conspiracy and three counts of VICAR murder, was sentenced to life in federal prison.
Orellana pleaded guilty in August 2025 to one count of racketeering conspiracy and is serving a federal prison sentence of 33 years and nine months.
Federal prosecutors have secured 34 convictions in this case.
The FBI, the Los Angeles Police Department, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, and the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office investigated this matter.
Assistant United States Attorneys William M. Larsen and Suria M. Bahadue of the Criminal Appeals Section, Jason C. Pang of the Transnational Organized Crime Section, Sara Vargas of the General Crimes Section, and Special Assistant United States Attorney Eric W. Siddall of the Major Crimes Section prosecuted this case
