Federal prosecutors filed charges in a Maryland court for murder, conspiracy, and racketeering against six members of the transnational criminal gang, MS-13. The charges are part of the Department of Justice’s ongoing effort to curtail the gang’s violent acts across the country.
Prosecutors unsealed a 24-page indictment (attached below) on Friday charging Juan Carlos Sandoval-Rodriquez (a.k.a. Picaro, El Pastor, and Gasper), David Diaz-Alvarado, Manuel Martinez-Aguilar (a.k.a. El Lunatic and Zomb), Fermin Gomez-Jimenez, Marlon Cruz-Flores (a.k.a. Little S), and Moises Alexis Reyes-Canales (a.k.a. Sicopata) with Conspiracy to Participate in a Racketeering Enterprise; Conspiracy to Commit Murder in Aid of Racketeering, Murder in Aid of Racketeering; Use, Carry, Brandish, and Discharge of a Firearm During and in Relation to a Crime of Violence; Attempted Murder in Aid of Racketeering; Conspiracy to Use, Carrry, Brandish, and Discharge a Firearm During and in Relation to a Crime of Violence; and Aiding and Abetting.
The 9-count indictment details the history, organization, and activities of the racketeering enterprise known as MS-13. It details the various cliques in the Maryland area that are responsible for a rash of heinous murders and other crimes of violence in the region. Prosecutors also described communications with MS-13 gang leaders in El Salvador.
In Maryland, prosecutors claim MS-13 members join cliques known as Hempstead Locos Salvatrucha, Fulton Locos Salvatrucha, Hollywood Locos Salvatrucha, Mormandie Locos Salvatrucha, Sailors Locos Salvatrucha Westside, Coronados Locos Salvatrucha, Parkview Locos Salvatrucha, Guanacos Little Psychos Salvatrucha, and Langley Park Salvatrucha.
Five of the indicted co-conspirators — Reyes-Canales, Cruz-Flores, Gomez-Jimenez, Martinez-Aguilar, and Diaz-Alvarado are reported to be members of the Hempstead Clique while Sandoval-Rodriguez is reportedly a member and associate of the Fulton Clique, prosecutors stated.
In September 2015, the indictment alleges that Martinez-Aguilar and other MS-13 gang members assaulted an unidentified Victim-4 repeatedly because the victim would not pay tribute to MS-13 in order to sell his marijuana in their territory.
In February, the gang members allegedly sought approval from MS-13 gang members outside of Maryland to murder another victim. After receiving approval, Sandoval-Rodriguez and another gang member allegedly lured a victim to a park where they intended to kill him.
On March 11, 2016, the indictment states that Cruz-Flores, Gomez-Jimenez, Sandoval-Rodriguez, and Diaz-Alvarado teamed up with other gang members to murder Victim-1.
Later that year, Reyes-Canales, Cruz-Flores, Gomez-Jimenez, Martinez-Aguilar, and other gang members allegedly attempted to murder an 18th Street gang member identified as Victim-2 in the indictment. The gang members allegedly used guns and knives to carry out the attempted murder on October 23, 2016. The gang members decided to try to kill a third victim because he was with Victim-2 would be a witness to the crime.
Martinez-Aguilar and another gang member attempted to kill Victim-2 by running him over with his own car. The gang members then allegedly attempted to murder Victim-2 by repeatedly stabbing him until he died. The indictment states the gang members shot Victim-3 and stabbed him multiple times.
Following the murders, the gang members allegedly burned Victim-2’s car and fled to Georgia to avoid detection and arrest by law enforcement officers.
If convicted, the suspects face up to life in prison for their charges. The use of a firearm in the commission of the violent crimes adds additional penalties to the sentencing.
Bob Price serves as associate editor and senior political news contributor for Breitbart Texas. He is a founding member of the Breitbart Texas team. Follow him on Twitter @BobPriceBBTX, GAB, and Facebook.
Maryland Prosecutors’ indictment against Six MS-13 Gang Members
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