The government's motion targets six MS-13 members facing murder charges in what prosecutors describe as a sprawling racketeering case. According to the indictment, defendant Edgard Velasquez allegedly served as a "corredor" who planned several murders, while other defendants including Angel Guzman, Fernando Garcia Parada, Mario Flores Vasquez, Jose Jonathan Castillo, and Paola Guevara participated in at least one killing each to further the gang's activities.
Prosecutors argued that four of five factors supporting anonymous juries are present, emphasizing that "MS-13 would issue a 'green light'" against suspected cooperators, meaning "that person was to be killed on sight." Assistant U.S. Attorney Jason Pang noted that MS-13 has approximately 10,000 members with "associates remaining at large" and cited the gang's "general willingness to interfere with the judicial process." The motion also references a previous judge's decision to empanel an anonymous jury for related defendants in fall 2025.
Defense counsel for all six defendants oppose the motion after a March conference, according to court filings. The case has already generated significant media attention, with prosecutors citing multiple Los Angeles Times articles covering MS-13 trials as evidence that publicity could expose jurors to "inappropriate contacts."
The May 2026 trial will proceed regardless of the anonymous jury ruling, with prosecutors proposing to keep juror names and personal information confidential while using extensive questionnaires for voir dire. The case represents part of broader federal efforts targeting MS-13's Los Angeles operations, with prosecutors noting that anonymous juries have become routine in similar gang prosecutions across multiple districts.