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Liranzo’s undoing began after a string of violent crimes rocked the Lynn area. Four murders and several attempted executions were tied directly to the Trinitarios gang. Federal investigators launched a sweeping probe that eventually traced the mayhem straight to Liranzo’s command.
“This wasn’t random street violence,” said Michael J. Krol, Special Agent in Charge of HSI New England. The arrest and conviction came after years of coordinated work between federal agents, local police, and prosecutors determined to take back the streets.
While MS-13 grabs headlines, the Trinitarios have built a shadow empire in cities across America. Originating in Rikers Island during the 1990s to protect Dominican inmates, the gang has metastasized into a sprawling transnational enterprise, now described by law enforcement as one of the most lethal groups operating inside the U.S.
They live by a “Magna Carta” playbook, enforce ranks with iron discipline, and terrorize communities with machetes and blades—often opting for knives over firearms because “a gun runs out of bullets but a knife never does.”
As one law enforcement official put it, “The Trinitarios are just as vicious as MS-13 without drawing the same amount of attention.” That’s made them even more dangerous—and largely unchecked until now.
Much like MS-13, the Trinitarios thrive on targeting immigrant communities, particularly illegal aliens. Their recruiting grounds include public high schools, and in some cases, children are coerced into joining or face deadly consequences.
Their twisted motto—“Dios, Patria y Libertad” (God, Fatherland, and Liberty)—is used as a sick justification for their violent and criminal behavior. And their gang colors—red, white, blue, and green—reflect both Dominican pride and a declaration of war on the communities they exploit.
In 2019, Liranzo orchestrated a chilling assassination attempt that showed just how methodical the gang’s violence really is. He and his crew baited three rival gang members using a fake online profile posing as a woman asking for a ride to a nightclub. The trap was set.
Liranzo showed up at the scene and fired at least six rounds directly into the victims’ vehicle. “The Defendant participated in a well-orchestrated hit that would have resulted in a double murder, but for lifesaving care that victims received,” Assistant U.S. Attorney Philip Mallard wrote.
Two of the targets nearly died, and investigators tied the attack to a broader pattern of coordinated violence by Liranzo’s unit—crimes that included homicides, kidnappings, and armed robberies.
Liranzo’s sentence is just one chapter in a broader federal offensive. In February 2025, the Department of Justice unveiled racketeering charges against 22 other high-ranking Trinitarios members. The operation spanned multiple jurisdictions and brought together ICE, FBI, state troopers, and local officers in a rare display of unified force.
Of those charged, six have already pleaded guilty—including Liranzo—but 16 more still face federal indictments under RICO laws that could land them in prison for life.
This crackdown was years in the making. Former Manhattan U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara once warned, “When Sierra created the Trinitarios gang on Rikers Island in 1992, a dangerous and bloodthirsty organization was born, responsible for overwhelming violence both on the streets of New York and other cities, and inside the prison system.”
This historic takedown highlights the enduring effectiveness of policies championed under the Trump administration. By labeling gangs like MS-13 and others as Foreign Terrorist Organizations, the Trump White House gave law enforcement the tools they needed to go after these groups with the aggression they demand.
Trump’s crackdown also included sanctions on gang leaders and increased deportations of illegal aliens involved in violent crime—policies the Left criticized, but which are now proving essential in cleaning up the streets.
While Liranzo is now behind bars, the war is far from over. The remaining 16 defendants await their day in court, and the feds are actively pursuing other gang cells across the U.S.
Fox News reports that Trinitarios and MS-13 continue to prey on vulnerable immigrant populations, using threats of deportation as leverage and turning high schools into recruiting zones.
But the 14-year sentence given to Liranzo proves that law enforcement is no longer playing defense. The gloves are off.
For the many communities long held hostage by gang violence, this case offers something rare—hope.
The Idiot Idaho ,DA Prosecutor, Thomas, On The Bryon Kohlberg Case Spent 30 Years in Law Enforcement. During that Time, He Only Had One Convection For a Murder Case. Even That case Will Soon Be Overturned On Appeal.
There Needs To Be a Law To Prevent Such Incompetent People Like Thomas , To Keep Running For Office After Five Failed Years!