Second MS-13 Member in as Many Weeks Sentenced for Drive-By Shooting

June 21, 2010 - ALEXANDRIA, VA—Jose Enrique Gordillo Portocarrero, also known as “Bandito,” 22, of Sterling, Va., was sentenced today to 148 months in prison, followed by a term of five years of supervised release, for his role in a drive-by shooting in Sterling, Virginia.

Neil H. MacBride, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Shawn Henry, Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI Washington Field Office; Loudoun County Sheriff Stephen O. Simpson, and Chiefs Charlie Deane and Joseph Price of the Northern Virginia Regional Gang Task Force made the announcement after sentencing by United States District Judge Leonie M. Brinkema.

Portocarrero pled guilty on March 9, 2010, to aiding and abetting attempted murder and discharge of a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence. According to court documents, on the evening of Sept. 13, 2008, Portocarrero and two other MS-13 members were traveling in defendant’s vehicle around Sterling, Virginia, when one of the passengers observed a suspected rival gang member walking down a nearby street. After seeing the suspected rival, Portocarrero pulled his vehicle over. His two passengers exited the vehicle and made it clear that they were going to pursue and attack the suspected rival. Portocarrero drove his vehicle down the street and heard the report of multiple gun shots followed by the sirens of police and emergency vehicles. Portocarrero picked up one of the MS-13 members and as that individual was getting into the vehicle, he placed a pistol in his pants. Portocarrero drove the MS-13 member to an overpass where the spent ammunition casings were discarded.

The suspected rival gang member and his pregnant female companion suffered multiple gunshot wounds, received emergency medical treatment, and survived.

On June 11, another MS-13 member, Jose Enrique Rivas Ayala, also known as “Pequeno,” 26, of Sterling, Virginia, was sentenced to 150 months in prison for driving MS-13 members to a shooting in Reston, Virginia.

This case was investigated by the FBI’s Washington Field Office, Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office, and the Northern Virginia Regional Gang Task Force. Assistant United States Attorneys Patricia Haynes and Zachary Terwilliger prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.