CENTRAL ISLIP, NY – A known member of the violent MS-13 gang pleaded guilty in federal court Tuesday to racketeering charges tied to the gruesome 2016 murders of two teenagers in Freeport, Long Island. The plea is part of a sweeping federal effort to dismantle one of the most dangerous transnational criminal organizations operating in the United States.
Kevin Cuevas Del Cid, also known by several aliases including “Creeper” and “Sombra,” admitted to his role in the murders of 20-year-old Kerin Pineda and 15-year-old Javier Castillo, both targeted because the gang believed they were affiliated with a rival group. Del Cid also pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute cocaine and marijuana.
The proceeding took place before U.S. District Judge Joan M. Azrack in Central Islip. The guilty plea was announced by U.S. Attorney Joseph Nocella, Jr., along with officials from the FBI and Nassau County Police Department.
These brutal killings are stark reminders of the MS-13’s disregard for human life,” said Nocella. “We remain committed to dismantling this organization and bringing justice to victims and their families.”
A Calculated Lure and Kill
According to court records and statements made during the hearing, Del Cid was just 16 years old when he and fellow members of the MS-13 “Sailors” clique lured Kerin Pineda to a wooded area near the Merrick-Freeport border on May 21, 2016. Posing as a young woman on Facebook, Del Cid baited Pineda into meeting in person. When the victim arrived, he was ambushed and hacked to death with machetes. His body was buried in a pre-dug grave at the scene.
Del Cid was the last of six MS-13 members charged in connection with the Pineda murder to plead guilty.
Five months later, Del Cid participated in the killing of 15-year-old Javier Castillo. Investigators say Castillo was convinced by gang members to travel from Central Islip to Freeport under the guise of smoking marijuana. Instead, he was taken to a secluded marsh in Cow Meadow Park and murdered in a similar machete attack. His body was buried and went undiscovered for nearly a year.
More than half a dozen MS-13 members have now been convicted in connection with the Castillo murder.
Charged as an Adult Despite His Age
Although Del Cid was a minor at the time of the killings, federal prosecutors successfully petitioned to have him tried as an adult. That decision followed an evidentiary hearing in 2022 and was authorized by U.S. Circuit Judge Joseph F. Bianco, who issued a memorandum finding that adult prosecution was warranted.
Del Cid was originally charged in 2020 under juvenile status, but the seriousness of the crimes and the organized nature of the gang’s violence led prosecutors to pursue adult charges.
Part of a Broader Crackdown
The case is part of a larger federal campaign – Operation Take Back America – designed to combat transnational criminal organizations and restore safety in affected communities. Since 2003, hundreds of MS-13 members, including dozens of high-ranking leaders, have been convicted in the Eastern District of New York.
Authorities say MS-13, which has roots in El Salvador, Honduras, Guatemala, and Mexico, operates numerous “cliques” across the United States and is considered the most violent criminal organization on Long Island.
Nassau County Police Commissioner Patrick Ryder echoed those remarks, stating: “We will never tolerate gang violence in our communities, and we’re proud of the ongoing cooperation that’s bringing these dangerous individuals to justice.”
The investigation was led by the FBI’s Long Island Gang Task Force, which includes multiple federal, state, and local agencies. The prosecution is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Paul Scotti, Justina Geraci, and Megan Farrell, with support from the Department of Justice’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF).
