LAS VEGAS — A federal jury in Las Vegas convicted Jose Luis Reynaldo Reyes-Castillo on June 29, 2026, on eight counts of murder in aid of racketeering and five counts of kidnapping in aid of racketeering. Reyes-Castillo was convicted alongside David Arturo Perez-Manchame and Joel Vargas-Escobar on multiple charges, including murder and racketeering.

The convictions stem from a federal racketeering case involving killings in Las Vegas and Los Angeles between 2017 and 2018. Reyes-Castillo was also found guilty of one count of attempted murder in aid of racketeering and multiple firearms-related charges.

The jury found all three defendants guilty on one count of conspiracy under the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act. The jury did not return guilty verdicts on charges related to two other killings included in the indictment. Reyes-Castillo was found guilty specifically in the killing of Arquimidez Sandoval-Martinez.

Prosecutors alleged the defendants were members of an MS-13 clique operating in Las Vegas and were responsible for the killings of 11 men in Nevada and California. They further alleged that the defendants participated in assault, kidnapping, robbery, narcotics trafficking, and illegal possession of firearms. Assistant U.S. Attorney Melanee Smith stated in her opening remarks that the defendants committed acts of violence to advance within the gang, believing their victims were members of the rival 18th Street gang.

Defense attorneys argued that cooperating witnesses, consisting of MS-13 gang members who pleaded guilty, were not credible and sought reduced sentences. Richard Wright, an attorney for Reyes-Castillo, stated that his client was an MS-13 member but denied his involvement in the offenses. The trial lasted 43 days.

Following the convictions, FBI Director Kash Patel issued a statement. "Today's conviction is just the latest example — with three MS-13 gang members convicted of nine murders, kidnappings, drug trafficking, and more in Las Vegas," Patel said. "These gangs have terrorized our communities for far too long, and under this administration and law enforcement team, they are no longer allowed to operate with impunity in America." Patel added, "This FBI will continue working with our partners across the country to dismantle their presence coast to coast." The defendants face a mandatory minimum sentence of life in prison without parole, with a sentencing hearing scheduled for November 10.

Why It Matters

The convictions of Jose Luis Reynaldo Reyes-Castillo, David Arturo Perez-Manchame, and Joel Vargas-Escobar address a federal racketeering case that involved multiple killings across two states. The proceedings involve law enforcement efforts targeting gang-related violence, specifically involving the MS-13 gang. The mandatory minimum sentence of life in prison without parole for the defendants reflects the severity of the crimes outlined in the charges.

The case required a 43-day trial following a 55-page indictment filed in 2021. The FBI stated it would continue working to dismantle gang presence. The jury convicted the defendants on some murder charges while not on others.