Jose Romero-Aguirre, also known as “Coñejo”, 31, of North Plainfield allegedly killed 22 year-old Andres Chach of Plainfield, New Jersey to secure a spot as a member of the MS-13 gang. The street gang La Mara Salvatrucha, or MS-13, is a transnational gang composed mainly of immigrants from or descendents of El Salvador. They have “cliques” around the country, one located in Plainfield known as Plainfield Locos Salvatruchas (PLS) that control the Middlesex, Somerset, and Union Counties.
The alleged murder took place back in January 9, 2011. At around 2 am, officers went to the 300 black of W Front Street in Plainfield after shots-fired reports. Police units found the victim with gunshot-related injuries on the street outside of a restaurant. Chach was taken to the hospital and was pronounced dead shortly thereafter. The relation between Chach and the MS-13 gang is unknown.
Romero-Aguirre was previously convicted and sentenced to 66 months in prison under charges of “conspiracy to commit murder in the furtherance of a racketeering enterprise”. He plead guilty to the conspiracy charges which included relaying information from jailed gang members to the outside. After the arrest of several members of the PLS clique in the summer of 2011, incarcerated members contacted Romero-Aguirre to inform the gang to kill witnesses that had played a role in the arrests.
The defendant now carries four charges, first-degree murder, first-degree conspiracy to commit murder, and two weapon related charges. State Superior Judge Regina Caulfield set his bail at $1.5 million after he was taken into custody this January. Romero-Aguirre could face a sentence beginning at 30 years to life in prison.
All persons are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
