This Week in Crime: MS-13 Sentencing, a Mob Assault, Charges in Toll Road Death and a Serial Bank Robber Behind Bars

A 19-year-old MS-13 member from Reston was sentenced to 10 years in prison for his role in a 2008 gang-related drive-by shooting in Sterling Park.

The defendant entered an Alford plea of guilt on three counts of unlawful wounding, one count of using a firearm while committing a felony and one count of gang participation on July 7 for the Sept. 17, 2008, shooting. He originally was charged with three counts of aggravated malicious wounding in the case, but they were dropped to unlawful wounding as part of the plea agreement. Although he was only 17 at the time of the attack, he was tried as an adult. According to court documents, he was riding in the back seat of a car the day of the shooting, while a 20 year old – also known as Duende – was in the passenger seat. Both were members of the Mara Salvatrucha, MS-13, street gang at the time. The car drove by a group of young men near the intersection of East Poplar Drive and Buckingham Court in Sterling, then returned, and he leaned out the window and fired shots at the group, injuring three, ages 19, 20 and 21 at the time. Court documents state the MS-13 members in the car thought the men on the street were members of 18th Street gang, their rivals. “As he rolled down the window, the defendant encouraged and urged him in the shooting by repeatedly slapping the back of the seat and yelling, ‘Shoot them!! Shoot them!!’” court documents said. One of the victims suffered a gunshot through the arm that left a permanent scar; another suffered a shot through the back that went through his spleen and out his chest; and the third was left paralyzed from the waist down. None of the three were 18th Street gang members, Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office spokesman Kraig Troxell confirmed. A native of El Salvador, he was brought to the United States illegally by his parents when he was 12. Although Horne sentenced him to an additional 18 years of suspended time upon his release, there is a federal immigration detainer on him so that he will be deported when his 10-year sentence is complete, Plowman said. He is serving 60 years in federal prison on several convictions for 2008 gang-related crimes.

Fairfax County Police believe a West Virginia man arrested for robbing two banks was the serial bank robber who struck twice in Reston in October.

The defendant, of Inwood, W.Va., was arrested Saturday on a fugitive from justice warrant issued in the Nov. 29 robbery of the Berryville Avenue United Bank branch, according to Winchester police. Loudoun County and Fairfax authorities said Monday that he is considered a suspect in four other robberies in Sterling, Reston and Great Falls reported between Oct. 6 and Nov. 20 that are considered related. No charges have been filed against him in Loudoun County or Fairfax. Authorities in those jurisdictions, along with Winchester police, have been assisting the FBI in a joint investigation. "At this time we're determining whether [he] will be charged at the state level or federally," said Kraig Troxell, a spokesman for the Loudoun County Sheriff's Office. "We do believe that the prisoner in West Virginia is the suspect in these robberies," Fairfax Police Department spokesman Bud Walker said.

A roving gang group of "at least six teenagers, both males and females" attempted to rob a 27-year-old man in the 12200 block of Laurel Glade Court on Dec. 4.

The suspects were described as white and black. One suspect was wearing a white coat, blue jeans and white shoes; another wore a brown coat, blue jeans and white shoes; and a third suspect was wearing a blue coat and blue jeans. Police have identified possible suspects and are investigating. The victim was treated at the scene for minor injuries.

A Reston man is one of two people who have been charged in the Nov. 19 death of a Silver Line construction supervisor on the Dulles Toll Road.

The 43 year old, of Reston, was charged with stopping on the roadway and a 59 year old of Sparks, Nevada, was charged with reckless driving, says a spokesperson for the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority, which operates the Toll Road. The spokesperson said the Toll Road Police brought the charges after consultation with the Fairfax County Commonwealth's Attorney Office. Kenneth Wright, of Woodbine, Md., and his brother Lonnie were on their way home from their construction jobs around 3 p.m. Nov. 19, when the taxi in front of them suddenly stopped in the eastbound lanes of the Dulles Toll Road just east of the main toll plaza. The Wrights' pickup truck hit the taxi. Both drivers got out with their vehicles in the third lane of traffic. Wright suggested they move to the shoulder out of the traffic. The taxi driver allegedly refused. Suddenly another truck hit the Wrights' truck sending it in the air with Lonnie inside. It landed on Kenneth Wright killing him instantly. That's how Donna Wright, Kenneth Wright's widow, said her husband died. The Airports Authority statement did not say when the charges were filed. It gave no details of what roles the two people charged may have played in the accident. And it did not explained how Mr. Wright was killed.

Donna Wright is still looking for witnesses to the accident. She can be contacted here.