All seven defendants involved in a violent 2022 attack at the U.S. Penitentiary in Beaumont, Texas, are now facing decades to life in federal prison.
BEAUMONT, Texas — The final seven defendants in a deadly prison riot were sentenced today in federal court, concluding a case that exposed the far-reaching influence and brutality of the transnational criminal organization according to the Eastern District of Texas Attorney’s office.
All seven defendants involved in a violent 2022 attack at the U.S. Penitentiary in Beaumont, Texas, are now facing decades to life in federal prison.
Acting U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Texas Abe McGlothin, Jr. announced that Juan Carlos Rivas-Moreiera, also known as “Stocky,” a 45-year-old El Salvadoran national and high-ranking MS-13 leader, was sentenced to life in federal prison on April 25.
Rivas-Moreiera was found to have orchestrated the deadly attack from within prison, acting on orders from MS-13 leadership in El Salvador.
Today, Hector Ramires, known as “Cuervo,” a 31-year-old Honduran national, was sentenced to 30 years in federal prison for his role in the same incident. He is the last of the seven convicted individuals to receive sentencing in the case.
The attack, which occurred on January 31, 2022, was described by prosecutors as a calculated and coordinated assault targeting rival gang members from the Sureños and Mexican Mafia. According to court documents, the assault was carried out inside a housing unit of USP Beaumont. Rivas-Moreiera initiated the violence by stabbing Guillermo Riojas, 54, in the chest. Once Riojas collapsed, chaos erupted and other MS-13 members joined in, kicking and stabbing him.
“The vicious brutality of MS-13 has no place in our prisons or our society,” said FBOP Director William K. Marshall III. “This heinous attack, which claimed two lives and endangered countless others, demanded a swift and decisive response. The life sentences handed down send an unmistakable message: we will relentlessly pursue and dismantle those who sow chaos and violence within our facilities. The Bureau of Prisons stands united with our law enforcement partners to ensure justice prevails and our communities are protected from these ruthless predators.”
The gang members then pursued Andrew Pineda, 34, another Sureños associate, stabbing him 46 times in total, 20 times on the front of his body and 26 times on the back. Both Riojas and Pineda died from their injuries. Two other inmates also suffered severe stab wounds and were hospitalized.
The attack prompted an unprecedented nationwide lockdown of the entire Federal Bureau of Prisons (FBOP), lasting nearly a week, as authorities assessed security threats and initiated an investigation into the gang’s prison-based operations.
“This case illustrates the danger posed, both in and out of prison, by MS-13, a foreign terrorist organization,” said McGlothin. “These sentences should serve as a warning… we will use all available resources to disrupt and dismantle their terrorist network.”
The other five MS-13 members involved in the deadly assault have also received lengthy federal sentences.
- Larry Navarete, 44, a national of Nicaragua, was sentenced to an additional 360 months in federal prison;
- Jorge Parada, 45, a national of El Salvador, was sentenced to an additional 360 months in federal prison;
- Raul Landaverde-Giron, 35, a national of El Salvador, was sentenced to an additional 360 months in federal prison;
- Sergio Sibrian, 32, a national of El Salvador, was sentenced to an additional 420 months in federal prison; and
- Dimas Alfaro-Granados, 42, a national of El Salvador, was sentenced to an additional 360 months in federal prison.
This prosecution is the result of coordination between the Eastern District of Texas and Joint Task Force Vulcan (JTFV). JTFV was created in 2019 to eradicate MS-13 and now expanded to target Tren de Aragua (TdA) and is comprised of U.S. Attorney’s Offices across the country.
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