MS-13 Leader Faces Sentencing in Eight-Murder Case as ‘Clique’ Term Spurs Media Debate

A senior figure in the MS-13 street gang is expected to be sentenced in a federal racketeering case that accuses the organisation of eight murders, according to news reports. The prosecution is the latest in a series of U.S. efforts targeting the transnational gang, whose members have been linked to brutal killings across several states. Ahead of the hearing, a dispute arose over ABC News’ description of the defendant’s local faction as a “clique.” Critics said the wording understated the gang’s violence, while journalists and analysts pointed out that federal agencies, including the Department of Homeland Security, have for years used “clique” to describe MS-13 sub-groups—paralleling the term “family” in mafia structures.