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Police: 5 suspected gang members charged in Montgomery Co. killing

WASHINGTON — Five suspected MS-13 gang members have been charged with murder, months after a New Jersey man was found buried in Montgomery County, Maryland, police said.

Police said that two people were arrested Monday: Neris Moreno, 19, of New Jersey, and Jackelin Leiba-Esperanza, 16, of Brentwood, Maryland.

Three others were arrested Wednesday: Reynaldo A Granados-Vasquez, 21 of Gaithersburg, Maryland; Jose Israel Melendez-Rivera, 18, of Montgomery Village, Maryland; and Katerine Solorzano-Aparicio, 17, of Hyattsville, Maryland.

All five were charged as adults with first-degree murder and conspiracy to commit first-degree murder.

The arrests are tied to the death of 22-year-old New Jersey resident Jordy Mejia. Police said hikers found his body in a shallow grave in Gaithersburg on Nov. 12.

Police said Mejia told his mother on Oct. 15 that he met a girl on Facebook and was traveling to Germantown, Maryland to meet her.

His mother reported him missing a few days later.

Police claimed the suspected gang members created a fake Facebook page of the girl as a way to trick Mejia into coming to the area so they could kill him.

How the ‘Juventus Way’ helped young Montgomery Co. soccer players during pandemic

When play resumes June 20 in Italy's Serie A, Juventus will be in first place and looking to secure its 68th league championship. If you're not familiar with one of the world's most famous soccer teams, think the New York Yankees of Italian soccer. But all its glamour and success is matched with true character and commitment for the way the game is played. That's not just limited to the team in Italy, but extends to a global network of youth clubs, including the Montgomery County, Maryland-based Juventus Academy DC Metro.
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