MARYLAND BRIEFING

Jose Pena Aguilar, known as "Smokey," was also sentenced by U.S. District Judge Deborah K. Chasanow to five years of supervised probation. The judge ordered that Pena Aguilar's sentence be served consecutively to the 20-year sentence he received in Circuit Court in Prince George's County, where he pleaded guilty to attempted murder in a shooting three years ago at High Point High School in Beltsville.

Pena Aguilar pleaded guilty Aug. 3 to the federal firearms charge. A summary of facts that was part of his plea agreement indicated that he committed the shooting at the high school June 10, 2003, and drove the getaway car after another MS-13 member fatally shot a man in Langley Park on April 2, 2003.

Pena Aguilar is among 22 alleged gang members indicted on racketeering charges in suburban Maryland, and one of three who has pleaded guilty. The first two defendants to stand trial -- Oscar Ramos "Casper" Velasquez, 21, and Edgar Alberto "Pony" Ayala, 29 -- are awaiting a jury verdict. The jury in their case began deliberating Friday and will resume deliberations today.

-- Ruben Castaneda

Gang Member Given 10 Years

A member of the violent street gang MS-13 was sentenced yesterday in federal court in Greenbelt to 10 years in prison for using a firearm to further racketeering by the gang, Maryland U.S. Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein said.

Jose Pena Aguilar, known as "Smokey," was also sentenced by U.S. District Judge Deborah K. Chasanow to five years of supervised probation. The judge ordered that Pena Aguilar's sentence be served consecutively to the 20-year sentence he received in Circuit Court in Prince George's County, where he pleaded guilty to attempted murder in a shooting three years ago at High Point High School in Beltsville.

Pena Aguilar pleaded guilty Aug. 3 to the federal firearms charge. A summary of facts that was part of his plea agreement indicated that he committed the shooting at the high school June 10, 2003, and drove the getaway car after another MS-13 member fatally shot a man in Langley Park on April 2, 2003.

Pena Aguilar is among 22 alleged gang members indicted on racketeering charges in suburban Maryland, and one of three who has pleaded guilty. The first two defendants to stand trial -- Oscar Ramos "Casper" Velasquez, 21, and Edgar Alberto "Pony" Ayala, 29 -- are awaiting a jury verdict. The jury in their case began deliberating Friday and will resume deliberations today.

-- Ruben Castaneda