MS-13 member admits he helped bury machete and knife used to kill teen in East Boston

Jose "Little Crazy" Vasquez today pleaded guilty to a RICO charge for his role in trying to hide evidence of the murder of Cristofer Perez de la Cruz, 16, of Chelsea on Falcon Street in East Boston in January, 2016.

He faces up to 18 years in prison at his Aug. 30 sentencing, which will also cover a failed attempt with another MS-13 member to fatally stab a rival gang member in 2014.

Officials say Vasquez did not take part in Perez de la Cruz's murder - in which the teen was both shot and stabbed repeatedly for being a suspected member of the rival 18th Street Gang. But, the US Attorney's office reports:

A few days after the murder, Vasquez - who did not personally commit the murder - helped another MS-13 member hide evidence related to the murder. Specifically, Vasquez helped bury the knife and machete used in the murder, as well as bloody clothes worn by those who committed the crime. This evidence was later recovered by law enforcement.

Vasquez, 24, was the leader of MS-13's Trece Locos Salvatrucha "clique" in the Boston area. He was one of 61 people rounded up in federal and local raids in 2016, and is the 46th to either plead or be found guilty. His plea comes a week after another MS-13 member admitted he did help kill Perez de la Cruz.