CHARLOTE, NC
Thirty-seven members of the street gang “La Mara Salvatrucha,” or “MS-13,” were indicted for numerous felonies including racketeering conspiracy, murder, attempted murder, assault and firearms violations, officials said.
Law enforcement reported that 13 alleged gang members were arrested Wednesday morning. Five remain at large and 16 are in state custody on various state charges, officials stated.
“The arrest of these MS-13 gang members is part of a coordinated law enforcement effort to eradicate gang violence in North Carolina. Innocent families should not suffer because of the callous and violent actions of others. The FBI will pursue those criminal offenders who impact the safety and stability of our neighborhoods, no matter their gang affiliation,” said John Strong, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Charlotte.
The 41-count indictment contain the following allegations:
- From at least in or about 2009 to present in Mecklenburg County and elsewhere, the defendants were members of the MS-13 gang, a criminal organization with over 6,000 members in the United States and 30,000 members internationally.
- MS-13 originated in Los Angeles, California, and has spread to states across the country, including in North Carolina.
- The gang’s members are mostly immigrants or descendants of immigrants from El Salvador and other Central and Latin American countries.
- MS-13 in North Carolina is divided into different groups, or “cliques,” identified by names such as “Charlotte Locotes Salvatrucha,” and “Centralles,” among others.
- The different cliques work together to carry out criminal acts, to protect the interests of the criminal enterprise, and to assist each other in avoiding law enforcement detection.
- The group leaders are often called “shot callers” or “voices,” and they are tasked with passing down information and orders from leaders higher in the gang hierarchy.
- Group leaders also act to resolve disputes, address organizational issues, and to participate in gang decisions, including the assault or murder of those suspected of cooperating with law enforcement, known as “green light.”
The following defendants were indicted:
Carlos Almote a/k/a “Rabioso,” 25, of Charlotte. (in state custody)
Jose Danny Argueta a/k/a “Shadow,” 23, of Charlotte. (in state custody)
Miriam Barilles-Escamilla a/k/a “Gata,” 26, of El Salvador. (not arrested)
Juan Bergamasco-Suarez a/k/a “Temper” or “Kilo,” 21, of Charlotte. (in state custody)
Milton Chavarria a/k/a “Syko,” 23, of Charlotte. (in state custody)
Raul Contreras a/k/a “Smoke,” 24, of Charlotte. (in state custody)
Luis Erazo a/k/a “Joker,” 24, of Honduras. (arrested)
Marvin Fuentes-Canales a/k/a “Crazy,” 22, of El Salvador. (not arrested)
Luis Funes-Rivera a/k/a “Demonio,” 20, of Charlotte. (in state custody)
Jorge Garcia a/k/a “Shorty,” 25, of Charlotte. (arrested)
Cesar Garcia-Perez a/k/a “Vikingo,” 35, of Charlotte. (in state custody)
Saul Gavidia a/k/a “Scrappy,” 20, of Landis, N.C. (arrested)
William Gavidia a/k/a “Duro,” 23, of Kannapolis, N.C. (arrested)
Raul Guardado a/k/a “Guanaco,” 42, of Charlotte. (arrested)
Neris Gutierrez a/k/a “Oso” or “Furioso,” 26, of Guatemala. (not arrested)
Angel Hernandez a/k/a “Taz” or “Magic,” 24, of Rock Hill, S.C. (arrested)
Jose Manuel Linares a/k/a “Chepito,” 21, of Charlotte. (arrested)
Rene Lopez-Ventura a/k/a “Mafioso,” 32, of Charlotte. (arrested)
Jose Moran-Celis a/k/a “Lil Silent,” 20, of Charlotte. (arrested)
Daniel Navarro a/k/a “Lunatico,” 21, of Charlotte. (in state custody)
Jonathan Noble a/k/a “Ghost,” 22, of Charlotte. (arrested)
Luis Ordonez-Vega a/k/a “Big Boy,” 36, of Concord, N.C. (in state custody)
Christian Pena a/k/a “Pitbull,” 19, of Charlotte. (in state custody)
Jorge Perez a/k/a “JP Bukie,” 30, of Charlotte. (arrested)
Victor Pineda a/k/a “Chele,” 23, of Charlotte. (arrested)
Rosendo Rivas a/k/a “Jester,” or “Demonio” or “Nene” 24, of Rock Hill. (in state custody)
Fec Rodriguez-Vareal a/k/a “Chelito,” 28, of Charlotte. (arrested)
Salvador Ruiz a/k/a “Chava,” 26, of Kannapolis. (not arrested)
Jorge Sosa a/k/a “Koki” or “Loco,” 23, of Charlotte. (in state custody)
Oscar Trejo a/k/a “Trigger” or “Maliente,” 23, of Charlotte. (in state custody)
Jaime Turcios a/k/a “Pitufo” or “Smurf,” 24, of Charlotte. (arrested)
Jose Vasquez a/k/a “Muneco,” 26, of El Salvador. (arrested)
Marlon Vasquez-Maldonado a/k/a “Gangster,” 23, of Charlotte. (in state custody)
Albert Vela-Garcia a/k/a “Conejo,” 25, of Landis. (arrested)
Luis Villalta a/k/a “Little Psycho,” 25, of El Salvador. (not arrested)
Alexis Villalta-Morales a/k/a “Rikichi,” 23, of Charlotte. (in state custody)
Miguel Zelaya a/k/a “Most Wanted,” 19, of Charlotte. (in state custody)
Specifically, the indictment alleges the following information:
- On December 18, 2013, Zelaya allegedly murdered Jose Orlando Ibarra in Charlotte, whom he believed to be a member of a rival gang.
- On June 6, 2014, also in Charlotte, Pena and Ordonez-Vega allegedly murdered Noel Navarro Hernandez.
- On April 23, 2011, Contreras murdered Rigoberto Castillo in Rock Hill, S.C.
- On June 23, 2013, in Charlotte, Garcia-Perez shot and killed Alejandro Sebastian Alvarez, a rival gang member. Contreras and Garcia-Perez were prosecuted on state charges for those murders, officials said.
MS-13 members adhere to a set of gang rules and pay dues which fund the gang’s criminal activities and support other gang members or their families in the U.S and abroad, according to authorities.
Gang members are also expected to protect the name, reputation, and status of gang and its members, and to punish through acts of violence and intimidation those who disrespect the gang, officials stated.
Officials stated some MS-13 members signify their affiliation with the gang by wearing blue, black and white color clothing and certain “Mara Salvatrucha,” or “MS-13” tattoos.
The defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty.