East Coast MS-13 leader sentenced to 19 years in prison

BOSTON (AP) — An East Coast leader of the violent Central American street gang MS-13 has been sentenced to more than 19 years in prison.

Federal prosecutors say Jose Adan Martinez Castro was sentenced in Boston's federal court on Wednesday after pleading guilty to racketeering conspiracy in November. Authorities say Castro was the leader of the MS-13's East Coast Program.

Castro was one of dozens of MS-13 members indicted by federal prosecutors in Massachusetts in 2016.

Authorities say they used a cooperating witness to record a meeting with East Coast Program leaders at Castro's home in Richmond, Virginia in December 2015.

Prosecutors say Castro and others discussed coordinating murders, strategy for strengthening the gang and sending money to El Salvador to support MS-13.

Castro's attorney didn't immediately respond to an email.

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