A Manassas man previously arrested in connection with a 2022 murder has been indicted on federal racketeering charges, with prosecutors alleging his involvement with the MS-13 criminal gang. The indictment, announced by federal authorities, expands upon earlier charges.
According to the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Virginia, Jonathan Castillo-Rivera, 20, also known as “Puma,” was indicted for racketeering conspiracy and murder in aid of racketeering. The charges stem from an investigation into MS-13's criminal activities in the Northern Virginia area.
Prosecutors allege that Castillo-Rivera was involved in the murder of a rival gang member in August 2022. He was initially charged with murder by Prince William County police in connection with that incident. The recent federal indictment links this murder to his alleged activities as part of the “SPSL” (Sailors Locos Salvatruchos Westside) clique of MS-13, operating in and around Manassas.
The racketeering conspiracy charge carries a maximum penalty of life imprisonment, while the murder in aid of racketeering charge also carries a maximum penalty of life imprisonment. An indictment is a formal accusation and is not evidence of guilt. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Additional details about the ongoing investigation or potential co-defendants were not immediately released by federal authorities. The case is being investigated by the FBI's Washington Field Office and the Prince William County Police Department.