CENTRAL ISLIP — Jairo Saenz was sentenced to 60 years in prison for racketeering. United States District Judge Gary R. Brown presided over the sentencing in federal court in Central Islip.

The racketeering conviction included predicate acts relating to seven murders. The sentence also reflected Jairo Saenz's participation in three attempted murders, arson, narcotics trafficking and firearms offenses. It further accounted for his participation in a conspiracy to kill Marcus Bohannon, who was murdered on September 5, 2016 by other members of MS-13.

Saenz is a high-ranking member of the Brentwood/Central Islip chapter of the Sailors Locos Salvatruchas Westside clique of MS-13. He is also known as "Funny." At the time of his crimes, he was second in command to his brother, Alexi Saenz. Saenz committed the crimes to maintain and increase his membership and status within the gang and to further the mission of MS-13.

His involvement in the violence spanned several years beginning in 2016. Saenz participated in the January 28, 2016 murder of Michael Johnson. He participated in the April 29, 2016 murder of Oscar Acosta.

On September 13, 2016, he participated in the murders of Kayla Cuevas and Nisa Mickens. He participated in the October 10, 2016 murder of Javier Castillo and the October 13, 2016 murder of Dewann Stacks. His final predicate murder act occurred with his participation in the January 30, 2017 murder of Esteban Alvarado-Bonilla.

Alexi Saenz pleaded guilty to the same crimes on July 10, 2024. Jairo Saenz pleaded guilty to the crimes on January 14, 2025. Alexi Saenz was sentenced principally to 68 years' imprisonment on July 2, 2025.

Joseph Nocella, Jr. the United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, James C. Barnacle, Jr. the Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI New York Field Office, and Kevin Catalina, the Commissioner of the Suffolk County Police Department, announced the sentence. Nocella said Jairo Saenz and his brother Alexi were at the forefront of a violent reign of terror and bloodshed that plagued communities across Long Island for years, and that they will both spend decades in prison, effectively life sentences, for their unspeakable crimes.

Nocella added that he hoped the sentence would bring closure to victims' families. He said he hoped that today's sentence brings some measure of closure to the surviving victims and the families of the fallen victims who, after these many years, continue to suffer unimaginable grief over the loss of their loved ones, and that the Office and law enforcement partners will continue to work tirelessly to hold the MS-13 and its members accountable for their horrific crimes.

Barnacle stated that the gang's capacity for violence had been disrupted. He said the MS-13 gang members' reign of brutality, marked by murders, attempted murders, arson, and firearms offenses, can no longer inflict harm on our communities, and that the FBI's Safe Streets Task Force will continue pursuing MS-13's leadership at every level until every community is free from their violence and intimidation.

Catalina described the scope of Saenz's criminal conduct. He said "Saenz was essentially a serial killer, having played a role in seven murders and three attempted murders." He noted that the crimes drew national attention to the gang's activities.

Catalina said that while no amount of prison time can bring these victims back, they hope this sentence brings some measure of justice and solace to their families, and that they will continue to dedicate the resources necessary to ensure gang violence never takes hold in our communities.