{"id":12430,"date":"2018-07-03T08:51:45","date_gmt":"2018-07-03T13:51:45","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.thedustininmansociety.org\/blog\/?p=12430"},"modified":"2018-07-03T08:53:10","modified_gmt":"2018-07-03T13:53:10","slug":"remember-kids-no-one-is-illegal","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.thedustininmansociety.org\/blog\/2018\/07\/03\/remember-kids-no-one-is-illegal\/","title":{"rendered":"Remember kids, “no one is illegal!” – 24 alleged MS-13 members facing federal indictment for violent racketeering, murder and money laundering conspiracies"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"\"<\/a>

photo DHS<\/p><\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

ICE newsroom<\/p>\n

07\/02\/2018<\/p>\n

\u00a0–\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n

Gang members allegedly committed 5 murders, conspired to murder 8 persons, engaged in kidnappings, extortion, and drug trafficking<\/strong><\/p>\n

BALTIMORE, Md. \u2013 A federal grand jury has returned a third superseding indictment charging twenty-four alleged members and associates of the gang MS-13. The indictment was returned on June 26, 2018 and unsealed yesterday.<\/p>\n

The indictment was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Robert K. Hur; Acting Assistant Attorney General John P. Cronan of the Justice Department\u2019s Criminal Division; Special Agent in Charge Gordon B. Johnson of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Baltimore Field Office; Acting Special Agent in Charge Cardell T. Morant of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement\u2019s Homeland Security Investigations (ICE-HSI) Baltimore Office; Chief Edward G. Hargis of the Frederick City Police Department; Frederick County State\u2019s Attorney J. Charles Smith, III; Chief Timothy J. Altomare of the Anne Arundel County Police Department; Anne Arundel County State\u2019s Attorney Wes Adams; Chief Henry P. Stawinski, III of the Prince George\u2019s County Police Department; Prince George\u2019s County State\u2019s Attorney Angela D. Alsobrooks; Chief J. Thomas Manger of the Montgomery County Police Department; and Montgomery County State\u2019s Attorney John McCarthy.<\/p>\n

United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Robert K. Hur stated \u201cMS-13 is one of the most violent and ruthless gangs on the streets today. Working with our state and local partners, and using the tools of our Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces, we are determined to dismantle this organization to make our communities in Maryland safer.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMS-13 is ravaging communities throughout the United States with brutal violence, recruiting children to their murderous ranks, destroying families, and leaving behind countless victims,\u201d said Acting Assistant Attorney General Cronan. \u201cThis indictment \u2014 which charges two dozen alleged MS-13 members with senseless acts of violence \u2014 is the latest example of the Department of Justice\u2019s unwavering commitment to combatting violent gangs that prey on communities, whether in Maryland or elsewhere in our country.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThis indictment is a direct result of the hard work and dedication shared by state, local and federal authorities in their efforts to combat violent gangs in our Maryland communities,\u201d said Special Agent in Charge Gordon B. Johnson, of the FBI’s Baltimore Division. \u201cWe are committed to combating this epidemic of violence that often takes young lives and creates fear in our communities. The FBI and our partners will aggressively pursue gangs wherever they surface and are steadfast to making Maryland a safe place for our citizens.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe will not allow MS-13 and its members or their affiliates to bring their nefarious and deadly activities into our neighborhoods,\u201d said Acting Special Agent in Charge Cardell T. Morant. \u201cI am proud of the dedicated agents who have duly executed their duties in our collective pursuit of law, order and justice.\u201d
\nTwenty-one defendants are charged with conspiracy to participate in a racketeering enterprise known as the La Mara Salvatrucha, or MS-13, including:<\/p>\n

Jorge Raul Guerra Castillo, a\/k\/a \u201cPelon,\u201d age 36;
\nCarlos Hernandez Diaz, a\/k\/a \u201cPositivo,\u201d age 25;
\nMilton Portillo Rodriguez, a\/k\/a \u201cLittle Gangster,\u201d and \u201cSeco,\u201d age 23;
\nJuan Carlos Sandoval Rodriguez, a\/k\/a \u201cPicaro,\u201d age 19;
\nFrancisco Ramirez Pena, a\/k\/a \u201cTepo,\u201d and \u201cAdvertencia,\u201d age 24;
\nJose Alberto Sibrian Garcia, a\/k\/a \u201cChango,\u201d age 26;
\nDarwin Arias Mejia, a\/k\/a \u201cCity,\u201d and \u201cCity Boy,\u201d age 25;
\nMiguel Lopez Abrego, a\/k\/a \u201cTimido,\u201d age 30;
\nAlbaro Rosa Moreno, a\/k\/a \u201cSlow,\u201d age 23;
\nErvin Arrue Figureoa, a\/k\/a \u201cTricky,\u201d age 19;
\nRonald Mendez Sosa, age 20;
\nEdwin Ruiz Urrutia, a\/k\/a \u201cSylvestre,\u201d age 19;
\nBrenda Argueta Argueta, a\/k\/a \u201cPrima,\u201d age 19;
\nCarlos Ventura Morales, a\/k\/a \u201cPantaya,\u201d age 30; and
\nDanny Hernandez Solorzano, a\/k\/a \u201cTitre,\u201d age 20.
\nThe names of six other defendants charged in the racketeering conspiracy remain sealed.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

In addition, Darvin Guerra Zacarias, a\/k\/a \u201cChapin,\u201d age 26, and Luis Fernando Cruz Rodriguez, a\/k\/a \u201cCatra,\u201d age 21, are charged with conspiracy to commit murder in aid of racketeering, along with Guerra Castillo, Hernandez Diaz, Portillo Rodriguez, Sandoval Rodriguez, Ramirez Pena, Arias Mejia, Rosa Moreno, Arrue Figueroa, Mendez Sosa, Ruiz Urrutia, and Argueta Argueta.<\/p>\n

Samuel Diaz-Ramos, a\/k\/a \u201cPequeno,\u201d age 32, is charged with money laundering conspiracy.<\/p>\n

MS-13 is a national and international gang composed primarily of immigrants or descendants from El Salvador. Branches or \u201ccliques\u201d of MS-13, one of the largest street gangs in the United States, operate throughout Frederick County, Anne Arundel County, Prince George\u2019s County, and Montgomery County, Maryland. All of the defendants except for Rosa Moreno were allegedly members and associates of the Fulton Locotes Salvatrucha clique of MS-13. The indictment alleges that Rosa Moreno was a member and associate of the Parkview Locos Salvatrucha clique of MS-13.<\/p>\n

The six-count indictment alleges that from 2015 and continuing through 2017, MS-13 members and associates engaged in racketeering activity that included murders, conspiracies to commit murder, attempted murders, extortion, robbery, kidnapping, drug trafficking, and money laundering.<\/p>\n

Specifically, the indictment alleges that the defendants murdered five individuals in Frederick, Anne Arundel, and Montgomery Counties, dismembering three of the victims. In addition, the defendants allegedly conspired to murder eight individuals, maiming and assaulting one of the individuals with a machete, shooting one individual in the head, and kidnapping and threatening another individual with a firearm to extract payment for extortion.<\/p>\n

The maximum sentence for the racketeering conspiracy is 20 years in prison, or up to life if special circumstances are proven; a maximum of 10 years in prison for conspiracy to commit murder in aid of racketeering; and a maximum of 20 years in prison for money laundering conspiracy. Initial appearances for the defendants began on June 27, 2018, in U.S. District Court in Baltimore.<\/p>\n

An indictment is not a finding of guilt. An individual charged by indictment is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty at some later criminal proceedings.<\/p>\n

United States Attorney Robert K. Hur commended the FBI; HSI; the Frederick City Police Department; the Anne Arundel, Montgomery, and Prince George\u2019s County Police Departments; and the Anne Arundel, Frederick, Montgomery, and Prince George\u2019s County State\u2019s Attorneys for their work in the investigation, and recognized the Baltimore County Police Department for its assistance. Mr. Hur thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kenneth S. Clark and Matthew DellaBetta, and Trial Attorney Catherine K. Dick of the Department of Justice\u2019s Organized Crime and Gang Section who are prosecuting this Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force case.<\/p>\n

Here.<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

  ICE newsroom 07\/02\/2018 \u00a0–\u00a0 Gang members allegedly committed 5 murders, conspired to murder 8 persons, engaged in kidnappings, extortion, and drug trafficking BALTIMORE, Md. \u2013 A federal grand jury has returned a third superseding indictment charging twenty-four alleged members and associates of the gang MS-13. The indictment was returned on June 26, 2018 and […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thedustininmansociety.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12430"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thedustininmansociety.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thedustininmansociety.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thedustininmansociety.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thedustininmansociety.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=12430"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/www.thedustininmansociety.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12430\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":12436,"href":"https:\/\/www.thedustininmansociety.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12430\/revisions\/12436"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thedustininmansociety.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=12430"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thedustininmansociety.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=12430"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thedustininmansociety.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=12430"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}