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Alleged Gang Member Released, Returned To Prison Over Bureaucratic Misunderstanding

Erika Wittlieb from Pexels

An alleged MS-13 gang member on Long Island was released from prison for almost a week earlier this month due to a misunderstanding between the federal government and the state of New York.

Ever Morales-Lopez faces federal homicide charges for the 2016 killing of Kerin Pineda, who was believed to be a member of a rival gang.

Morales-Lopez was serving a sentence for drug charges in a state prison. He was paroled on September 3 for good behavior.

The FBI found out about his release on September 8, and arrested him in his Freeport neighborhood the next day.

Morales-Lopez is being held without bail as a flight risk and danger to the community. He could face the death penalty, if convicted of Pineda’s murder.

A native Long Islander, J.D. is WSHU's managing editor. He also hosts the climate podcast Higher Ground. J.D. reports for public radio stations across the Northeast, is a journalism educator and proud SPJ member.