Trinitarios gang members arrested in connection with 6 murders in Lawrence, Lynn

Federal authorities announced charges against nearly two dozen alleged Trinitarios gang leaders, members and associates on Wednesday morning.

The U.S. Attorney's Office for Massachusetts held a press conference in Boston to announce charges against 22 alleged gang members in connection with multiple murders, shootings, violent assaults and drug trafficking. Homeland Security, the FBI, state police and the Essex District Attorney's Office were also involved in the operation.

The Trinitarios is a violent street gang founded in New York City in the 1990s. The group was largely dismantled by law enforcement there in the early 2000s, but has seen a resurgence in recent years, including in Lawrence, Lynn, Worcester, Boston and Haverhill.

"Today, the Trinitarios' reign of terror in Massachusetts has come to an end," U.S. Attorney Leah Foley said Wednesday.

Fourteen of the 22 people were charged in connection with six fatal shootings -- two in Lawrence in 2017 and another four in Lynn in 2023.

"For well over a decade, the Trinitarios have engaged in brazen acts of murder, assault and narcotics distribution, instilling fear in communities across this commonwealth -- particularly Lynn and Lawrence," Foley said. She said the arrests "struck a significant blow" against the gang's Massachusetts operations, "virtually dismantling the organization."

Among those charged was the organization's "supreme leader," Foley said.

She said authorities arrested eight of the 22 suspects on Wednesday morning, and one remains on the loose. Two are in Honduras awaiting extradition, one is in the Dominican Republic and several others were already in custody.

All eight suspects arrested Wednesday morning are expected to appear in federal court later Wednesday.

Essex District Attorney Paul Tucker -- whose county includes Lawrence and Lynn -- also spoke at Wednesday's press conference, saying it was gratifying to see the families of the shooting victims finally achieve some justice.

"Today is a good day," he said.

One of the Lynn shootings occurred at a farewell party, killing two young men, including one who was about to head off to college. Five others at the party were also shot. The other Lynn shooting killed two of the three victims, one of them a 16-year-old boy, just two days after Christmas.

"I stood there that morning on Essex Street, just hours after that shooting," Tucker said. "You could see the fear, the anxiety. It was palpable. And having the opportunity to stand here today to close that loop to make sure we brought justice for those families, to be able to stand here today and bring a matter of justice, there's some sense of gratitude not only for the families but law enforcement as well."

Authorities identified the "State Supreme of the Trinitarios for Massachusetts" as Enmanuel Paula-Cabral, a/k/a, “Nelfew,” a/k/a “Gordo,” “Manny." Prosecutors said that he was also responsible for the gang's operations in Manchester, New Hampshire, and in Maine, where the Trinitarios allegedly have a "lucrative" drug trade.

The federal prosecutors paint a picture of a clear hierarchy in the organization, with Ery Jordani Rosario, a/k/a “Racacha," serving as a second in command referred to as the “Flag” or “Segundo,” according to prosecutors.

A "Cabinet" in the gang works to recruit new members, discipline existing members and collect money, prosecutors said. A written "Magna Carta" was said to define the structure of the organization.

The Massachusetts Trinitarios were accused of recruiting through Dominican immigrant communities, specifically targeting high schools in Lawrence and Lynn. New members were typically inducted by completing a violent mission like a shooting or beating with rival gang members, according to authorities.

Federal authorities provided a list of defendants and their charges. There are two names of juvenile defendants that have been removed pending confirmation that they are being charged as adults.

	DEFENDANTS – U.S. ATTORNEY'S OFFICE
First Name		Last Name	Street Name(s)	Age	Role	Charge
Justin		Alba	Tuto; Mimi	25	Discipline (“Disciplina”) - Lynn Chapter	RICO Conspiracy with Murder
Darwin		Batista	El Py	21	Member - Lynn Chapter	RICO Conspiracy with Murder
Janoy		Batista	El Viejo	34	Member - Lynn Chapter	RICO Conspiracy
Aaron		Diaz Liranzo	Sosa	26	Leader #1 - Lynn Chapter	RICO Conspiracy
Luis		Enrique Santana	Chiquito; Young LS	30	Member - Lynn Chapter	RICO Conspiracy
David		Garcia	Bambino	23	Member - Lynn Chapter	RICO Conspiracy with Murder
Israel		Garcia Vasquez	Menol; Menor	23	Member - Lynn Chapter	RICO Conspiracy
Luis		Jeffrey Santana	Sopita	27	Primera Number One - Manchester Chapter	RICO Conspiracy
James		Jimenez		25	Member - Lynn Chapter	RICO Conspiracy with Murder
Ery		Jordani Rosario	Jordani; Racacha	32	Second-in-Command (“Flag;” “Seundo”)	RICO Conspiracy
Westyn		Lantigua	Wes; Muddy; Wes Trippy	24	Member - Lynn Chapter	RICO Conspiracy
Michael		Miliano	Trucho	22	Member - Lynn Chapter	RICO Conspiracy with Murder
Enmanuel		Paula-Cabral	Nelfew; Gordo; Manny; Few	33	State Supreme Leader	RICO Conspiracy with Murder
			Kreepy	16	Menore (juvenile)	RICO with Murder
Kelvin Liranzo		Roman	Woopty	25	Member - Lynn Chapter	RICO Conspiracy with Murder
Warly		Ruiz		30	Member - Lynn Chapter	RICO Conspiracy with Murder
Tomy		Sanchez Tejeda	Manito Bello	35	Leader #3 - Lynn Chapter	RICO Conspiracy with Murder
Angel		Santos	Biggie; Big Boy	25	Security Officer (“Securidad”)	RICO Conspiracy with Murder
Abel		Severino Reyes	Riko; Indio	21	Member - Lynn Chapter	RICO Conspiracy with Murder
Elvis		Trujillo	Honduras	27	Member - Lawrence Chapter	RICO Conspiracy with Murder
Yeferson		Vallecillo Cambar	Illuminati	23	Member - Lynn Chapter	RICO Conspiracy with Murder
Wilving		Lopez	Bolu	24	Member - Lynn Chapter	RICO Conspiracy

DEFENDANTS – ESSEX COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE
First Name	Last Name	Street Name(s)	Age	Role	Charge
		Pinina	15	Menore (juvenile)	Murder
Robert	Severino	Petete	25	Member - Lawrence Chapter	Murder
DEFENDANTS – U.S. ATTORNEY'S OFFICE (PREVIOUSLY UNSEALED CHARGES)
First Name	Last Name	Street Name(s)	Age	Role	Charge
Eric	Rosario	Maniactico; MT	26	Member - Lawrence Chapter	Hobbs Act Robbery
Robert	Santana	Piccarine	29	Member - Lawrence Chapter	Hobbs Act Robbery
Rosnel	Polanco	Jai	26	Member - Lawrence Chapter	Hobbs Act Robbery
Ricardo	Bratini-Perez	Rico from the Sin	26	Member - Lynn Chapter	Drug Offenses