WASHINGTON – An 11-count indictment, unsealed immediately, fees 12 members of a violent transnational prison group in a Racketeering Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act conspiracy that included kidnapping, homicide, theft, witness tampering, and drug trafficking. Federal brokers with the FBI, Immigration and Customs Enforcement – Enforcement and Elimination Operations (ICE-ERO), US Marshals Service, and officers of the Metropolitan Police Division arrested one defendant this morning; 11 defendants had been beforehand taken into custody on these or different fees.
The costs had been introduced by United States Legal professional Matthew M. Graves, FBI Particular Agent in Cost Wayne Jacobs, of the Washington Subject Workplace Legal and Cyber Divisions, Subject Workplace Director Russ Hott of the ICE-ERO Washington Subject Workplace, the US Marshal Service Washington Workplace, and Chief Robert J. Contee, III, of the Metropolitan Police Division (MPD).
Prices embody: conspiracy to take part in a racketeer influenced and corrupt group, conspiracy to commit homicide in support of racketeering, assault with a harmful weapon in support of racketeering, conspiracy to commit kidnapping leading to demise, possession and discharge of a firearm in relation to against the law of violence, illegal possession of a firearm by an alien illegally or unlawfully in the US, and tampering with a witness, sufferer, or informant. (see defendant chart for record of fees pertaining to every)
The indictment alleges that the defendants are members of “18th Avenue,” a violent worldwide road gang who, between a minimum of 2019 and August 2022, within the District of Columbia, District of Maryland, Jap District of Virginia, District of Delaware and elsewhere, knowingly, and deliberately conspired to conduct and take part, immediately and not directly, within the conduct of the enterprise via a sample of racketeering exercise consisting of a number of murders, kidnappings, and different crimes, and financed their enterprise via drug gross sales, unlawful firearm gross sales, armed robberies, and the gathering of dues from members.
In response to the indictment, members are required to commit acts of violence to additional the pursuits of the gang. These violent acts are sometimes directed in opposition to rival gang members, 18th Avenue members who violate gang guidelines or in any other case disrespect the gang, and individuals who’re suspected of cooperating with legislation enforcement. Moreover, 18th Avenue members promote and transport narcotics, weapons, and different contraband to generate cash to help the gang and its prison actions. Among the proceeds of this prison exercise are wired to members of the gang’s management in different international locations. 18th Avenue members management geographical areas and use violence to take care of their management.
Members of 18th Avenue are organized into “cliques,” or smaller teams working inside particular cities or areas that every one function beneath the umbrella guidelines of 18th Avenue to incorporate the next: the Tiny Locos Surenos (“TLS”), Los Loopy Brothers (“LCB”), and the Revolucionarios. Defendants Alvarado-Velasquez, Ibarra-Cristales, Maradiaga, Boteo, and Rolando and Andree Martinez-Mora had been members and associates of LCB. Defendants Diaz-Lopez, Madrid-Flores, Hernandez-Menjivar, Rodriguez, Guevara-Villatoro, and Vasquez-Izara had been members and associates of TLS.
The 18th Avenue gang is very organized and effectively structured. It follows initiation rituals, makes use of particular gang indicators, colours and symbols, and requires adherence to and enforcement of particular guidelines of conduct and cost of dues which can be used, partly, to help the gang and its members. 18th Avenue cliques usually work cooperatively to have interaction in prison exercise and to help each other in avoiding detection by legislation enforcement.
The indictment additional alleges that 18th Avenue members engaged in homicide, kidnapping, assault, threats of violence, and different crimes with a view to: protect, broaden, and defend the ability, territory, and popularity of the gang; be promoted throughout the gang; and punish and self-discipline members and associates who violate the principles, together with improperly associating with rival gang members. For instance, on July 14, 2021, members of the TLS and LCB cliques murdered Carlos Ramos Martinez partly resulting from his affiliation with a rival faction inside 18th Avenue. As well as, on December 19, 2021, members of the TLS and LCB cliques murdered Danis Alcides Salgado Mata as a result of they believed he was a member or affiliate of a rival gang.
The federal government can be searching for forfeiture of all any and all property acquired via the gang’s unlawful actions.
An indictment is merely a proper cost {that a} defendant has dedicated a violation of prison legal guidelines and each defendant is presumed harmless till, and until, confirmed responsible.
This prosecution is a part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Process Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, cash launderers, gangs, and transnational prison organizations that threaten the US by utilizing a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency method that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and native legislation enforcement companies in opposition to prison networks.
In asserting the costs, U.S. Legal professional Graves, SAC Jacobs, Subject Director Hott, and Chief Contee counseled the work of these investigating the case from the FBI Violent Crimes Process Power, the Division of Homeland Safety’s Immigration and Customs Enforcement – Enforcement Elimination Operations, the U.S. Marshals Service, the Metropolitan Police Division (MPD), and the Montgomery County, Maryland Police Division. Additionally they expressed appreciation for the help offered by the District of Columbia Division of Forensic Sciences and the Montgomery County, Maryland State’s Legal professional’s Workplace. Lastly, they counseled the work of Assistant U.S. Attorneys Gilead Mild, Jack Korba, Christopher Marin, and Will Hart, who’re investigating and prosecuting the case.
DEFENDANT LIST
NAME |
AGE |
ADDRESS |
CHARGES |
Jose Santos Alvarado-Velasquez
|
22
|
Takoma Park, MD |
RICO-Conspiracy, Conspiracy to Commit VICAR-Homicide, VICAR-ADW, Conspiracy to Commit Kidnapping Leading to Loss of life, Possession of Firearm – Crime of Violence, Illegal Possession of a Firearm – Unlawful Alien |
Gerlin Neptali Diaz-Lopez |
21 |
Washington, DC |
RICO-Conspiracy, Conspiracy to Commit VICAR-Homicide, VICAR-ADW, Conspiracy to Commit Kidnapping Leading to Loss of life, Possession of Firearm – Crime of Violence, Illegal Possession of a Firearm – Unlawful Alien |
Jose Anselmo Ibarra-Cristales |
22 |
Beltsville, MD |
RICO-Conspiracy, Conspiracy to Commit VICAR-Homicide, VICAR-ADW, Conspiracy to Commit Kidnapping Leading to Loss of life, Possession of Firearm – Crime of Violence, Illegal Possession of a Firearm – Unlawful Alien |
Carlos Rolando Martinez-Mora |
23 |
Hyattsville, MD |
RICO-Conspiracy, Conspiracy to Commit VICAR-Homicide x2, VICAR-ADW x2, Conspiracy to Commit Kidnapping Leading to Loss of life, Possession of Firearm – Crime of Violence x2 |
Bradley Andree Martinez-Mora |
20 |
Hyattsville, MD |
RICO-Conspiracy, Conspiracy to Commit VICAR-Homicide, VICAR-ADW, Conspiracy to Commit Kidnapping Leading to Loss of life |
Jexon Madrid-Flores |
21 |
Boston, MA |
RICO-Conspiracy, Conspiracy to Commit Kidnapping Leading to Loss of life |
Sindy Paola Hernandez-Menjivar |
19 |
Woodbury, NJ |
Witness Tampering |
Milton Benjamin Guevara-Villatoro |
21 |
El Salvador |
RICO-Conspiracy, Conspiracy to Commit VICAR-Homicide, VICAR-ADW, Conspiracy to Commit Kidnapping Leading to Loss of life |
Cesar De La O Rodriguez |
19 |
Washington, DC |
RICO-Conspiracy, Conspiracy to Commit VICAR-Homicide, VICAR-ADW, Conspiracy to Commit Kidnapping Leading to Loss of life, Possession of Firearm – Crime of Violence, Illegal Possession of a Firearm – Unlawful Alien |
Bryan Delfino Vasquez-Izara |
20 |
Washington, DC |
RICO-Conspiracy, Conspiracy to Commit Kidnapping Leading to Loss of life |
Elvis Mauricio Maradiaga |
21 |
Bladensburg, MD |
RICO-Conspiracy, Conspiracy to Commit Kidnapping Leading to Loss of life |
Carlos Giovani Linares Boteo |
26 |
Washington, DC |
RICO-Conspiracy, Conspiracy to Commit VICAR-Homicide, VICAR-ADW, Conspiracy to Commit Kidnapping Leading to Loss of life |