Jairo Saenz, a high-ranking MS-13 member tied to seven murders on Long Island, has been sentenced to 60 years in federal prison, bringing another major chapter of a yearslong case to a close.
Saenz, also known as “Funny,” was sentenced Tuesday, Sept. 15, 2026, in federal court in Central Islip. He had pleaded guilty in January 2025 to racketeering charges connected to seven killings, as well as three attempted murders, arson, narcotics trafficking and firearms offenses.
Among the victims were Brentwood High School students Kayla Cuevas, 16, and Nisa Mickens, 15, whose murders in September 2016 drew widespread attention to MS-13 violence on Long Island.
The two teenagers were walking in Brentwood on Sept. 13, 2016, when they were attacked by members of the gang. Federal prosecutors said the killings followed disputes involving Cuevas and MS-13 members.
For Kayla’s father, Freddy Cuevas, the case has never been simply about a court proceeding. His home remains filled with photographs of his daughter and the family life that existed before her death.
The loss also devastated Kayla’s mother, Evelyn Rodriguez, who became a prominent advocate against gang violence following her daughter’s killing. Rodriguez was later killed in 2018 during a dispute over the placement of a memorial for Kayla.
Freddy Cuevas has continued attending court proceedings despite the physical and emotional toll of the yearslong case. He has also dealt with serious health problems since Rodriguez’s death.
Saenz’s 60-year sentence covers his involvement in the killings of Michael Johnson, Oscar Acosta, Kayla Cuevas, Nisa Mickens, Javier Castillo, Dewann Stacks and Esteban Alvarado-Bonilla.
Federal prosecutors also said Saenz participated in three attempted murders and other crimes during a period of violence in Brentwood and Central Islip. According to court records, he served as a senior member of the Sailors clique of MS-13 and was second in command to his brother, Alexi Saenz.
The brothers were connected to a series of violent crimes committed in 2016 and 2017. Alexi Saenz, who was identified as the local leader of the clique, previously pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 68 years in federal prison in July 2025.
Jairo Saenz’s case dates back nearly a decade, with the murders of Kayla and Nisa becoming one of the most closely followed parts of the federal investigation into MS-13 activity on Long Island.
The latest sentencing does not erase the loss experienced by the victims’ families, but it marks another significant development in a case that has remained in the courts for years.
For families who have continued to attend hearings and wait for the cases to reach their final stages, the sentencing represents another step toward the conclusion of a painful chapter that began in 2016.
