THE MALDEN ADVOCATE–Friday, February 25, 2022 Page 17 MS-13 member sentenced to life in prison for RICO conspiracy and brutal murder of two teenagers O n February 16 a member of the violent MS-13 gang was sentenced in federal court in Boston for RICO conspiracy and for his participation in the murders of two teenagers in Massachusetts – one in 2016 in East Boston and the other in 2018 in Lynn – in each instance playing a critical role in repeatedly stabbing a teenager to death. Henri Salvador Gutierrez, 23, a Salvadoran national, was sentenced to life in prison. In June 2021, Gutierrez pleaded guilty to RICO (from the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act) – conspiracy on behalf of MS-13. As part of his activities in furtherance of MS-13, Gutierrez played a critical role in two horrifi c murders in which teenagers were repeatedly stabbed to death in public parks in Massachusetts. Both victims were murdered with extreme atrocity and cruelty in violation of Massachusetts law. MS-13, or La Mara Salvatrucha, is a transnational street gang operating in Massachusetts and numerous other states, as well as countries, such as El Salvador, Honduras and Guatemala. MS-13 gang members often commit acts of extreme violence against suspected rivals, those suspected of cooperating with law enforcement and others whom the gang views as a threat. The gang is also known for recruiting young members at local high schools, who are then groomed to commit violence in furtherance of the gang’s mission. In recent years, dozens of MS-13 members have been convicted of RICO conspiracy and other serious felonies in the District of Massachusetts. MS-13 is organized into “cliques”: branches operating in local territories. Gutierrez was a member of the “Sykos Locos Salvatrucha” (Sykos) and, previously, the “Trece Locos Salvatrucha” (TLS) cliques of MS-13. Achieving promotion in MS-13 generally requires the commission of a signifi cant act of violence, often including murder. The evidence in this case showed that Gutierrez was a “homeboy,” or full member of the MS-13 gang. On December 24, 2016, in furtherance of MS-13’s racketeering activities, Gutierrez participated in the murder of a teenage boy in East Boston. The evidence showed that Gutierrez lured the victim to a public soccer stadium based on Gutierrez’s belief that ~ LEGAL NOTICE ~ MALDEN PLANNING BOARD PUBLIC HEARING The Malden Planning Board will hold a public hearing in the Herbert L. Jackson Council Chamber, Malden City Hall, 215 Pleasant Street, Malden, MA at 7:00 P.M. on Wednesday, MARCH 9, 2022, on the petition of 11 Dartmouth Property LLC (Permit Application # COO 041693-2022) under Title 12, Chapter 12, Section 030 of the Code of the City of Malden, seeking a special permit to allow research and development use of property in the Central Business zoning district, namely, to occupy approximately a total 149,632 SF located on the second through ninth floors of a new building to be constructed, at the properties known as and numbered 11 Dartmouth Street and 17 Dartmouth Street, Malden, MA and also known by City Assessor’s Parcel ID # 050-259-918 and 050-259 902. Petition and plans are available for public review in the Inspectional Services Department, Malden City Hall, 215 Pleasant Street, 3rd Floor, Malden, MA and under Permit Application # COO-041693-2022 at https://permits.cityofmalden.org/EnerGov_PROD/SelfService#/home. By: Kenneth Antonucci, Clerk February 18 & February 25, 2022 the victim might have been associated with a rival gang. Gutierrez personally stabbed the victim numerous times and left the victim’s body at the bottom of a stairwell. An autopsy revealed the victim had at least a dozen sharp force wounds consistent with a stabbing, with signifi cant injuries to the neck, chest and back. His throat appeared to have been slashed, and he had multiple incised wounds to the neck and multiple stab wounds to the chest. In 2017 – while the December 2016 murder remained unsolved and unrelated to that investigation – immigration authorities arrested Gutierrez as part of ongoing removal proceedings. Gutierrez had entered the United States unlawfully in 2014 and was facing deportation. Authorities sought to remove Gutierrez from the United States and pointed to evidence of his association with MS-13 as part of the reasons to oppose Gutierrez’s petition for asylum and other relief. Gutierrez submitted an affi davit and testifi ed under oath at his removal proceedings. Through his statements, Gutierrez misled PRISON | SEE PAGE 19 a y avvy S iorenniiooro a avvyavvy iori n r by Jim Miller How to Convince an Elderly Parent to Stop Driving Dear Savvy Senior, What is the best way to deal with older drivers who probably shouldn’t be driving anymore? My dad, who’s 86, is bound and determined to keep driving as long as he’s alive. Backseat Daughter Dear Backseat, For many families, talking to an elderly parent about giving up the car keys can be a very diffi cult and sensitive topic. While there’s no one way to handle this issue, here are a few suggestions that can help you evaluate your dad’s driving and ease him out from behind the wheel when the time is right. Take a Ride To get a clear picture of your dad’s driving abilities, a good fi rst step, if you haven’t already done so, is to take a ride with him and watch for problem areas. For example: Does he have diffi culty seeing, backing up or changing lanes? Does he react slowly, get confused easily or make poor driving decisions? Does he drive at inappropriate speeds, tailgate or drift between lanes? Also, has your dad had any fender benders or tickets lately, or have you noticed any dents or scrapes on his vehicle? These, too, are red fl ags. If you need some help and your dad is willing, consider hiring a driver rehabilitation specialist who’s trained to evaluate elderly drivers and provide safety suggestions. This type of assessment typically costs between $200 and $400. To locate a professional in your area, visit AOTA.org/older-driver or ADED.net. Transitioning and Talking After your assessment, if you think it’s still safe for your dad to drive, see if he would be willing to take an older driver refresher course. These courses will show him how aging aff ects driving skills and off ers tips and adjustments to help keep him safe. Taking a class may also earn your dad a discount on his auto insurance. To locate a class, contact your local AAA (AAA.com) or AARP (AARPdriversafety.org, 888-227-7669). Most courses cost around $20 to $30 and can be taken online. If, however, your assessment shows that your dad really does need to stop driving, you need to have a talk with him, but don’t get carried away. If you begin with a dramatic outburst like “Dad, you’re going to kill someone!” you’re likely to trigger resistance. Start by simply expressing your concern for his safety. For more tips on how to talk to your dad about this and evaluate his driving skills, the Hartford Financial Services Group and MIT AgeLab off ers a variety of resources to assist you. Visit TheHartford.com/lifetime and click on “Publications” on the menu bar, then on the “We Need to Talk” guidebook. Refuses to Quit If your dad refuses to quit, you have several options. One possible solution is to suggest a visit to his doctor who can give him a medical evaluation, and if warranted, “prescribe” that he stops driving. Older people will often listen to their doctor before they will listen to their own family. If he still refuses, contact your local Department of Motor Vehicles to see if they can help. Or call in an attorney to discuss with your dad the potential fi nancial and legal consequences of a crash or injury. If all else fails, you may just have to take away his keys. Alternative Transportation Once your dad stops driving, he’s going to need other ways to get around, so help him create a list of names and phone numbers of family, friends and local transportation services that he can call on. To fi nd out what transportation services are available in your dad’s area contact Rides in Sight (RidesInSight.org, 855-607-4337), and the Eldercare Locator (800-677-1116), which will direct you to his area agency on aging for assistance. Send your senior questions to: Savvy Senior, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070, or visit SavvySenior.org. Jim Miller is a contributor to the NBC Today show and author of “The Savvy Senior” book.
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