Federal Jury Deadlocks in MS-13 Case Involving Moises Rivera-Luna

In March 2025, the Trump administration announced the arrival of Moises Rivera-Luna, an alleged MS-13 leader, in the United States. Rivera-Luna, who is accused of orchestrating murders from a Salvadoran jail, faced a federal jury in Washington, DC, in April 2026. This marked the second trial for Rivera-Luna, and for the second time, the jury was unable to reach a verdict, resulting in a mistrial. Judge Royce Lamberth noted the unusual nature of the case, as it reflects a broader trend in the DC federal court where the US Attorney's Office, led by Jeanine Pirro, has struggled to secure convictions. Since January 2026, the office has only achieved four convictions out of eight federal cases tried. Following the mistrial in Rivera-Luna's case, nearly a dozen additional criminal cases were tried, with juries deadlocking in four instances. Legal experts suggest that jurors may be scrutinizing the evidence more closely, and some believe political discontent with the Trump administration may influence jury decisions. The challenges faced by Pirro's office have raised concerns about the effectiveness of prosecutions in the coming months, particularly in high-profile cases.