NEWARK, NJ
Two MS-13 gang members charged with allegedly conspiring to kill another gang member who was suspected of cooperating with law enforcement, according to officials.
Juan Pablo Escalante-Melgar, a/k/a “Humilde,” 26, and Elmer Cruz-Diaz, a/k/a “Locote,” 27, both of Union City, New Jersey, are charged in a one-count criminal complaint with conspiring to kill an individual to prevent them from communicating with a law enforcement officer, officials said.
Escalante-Melgar and Cruz-Diaz made their initial appearances on Monday.
Both were taken into custody on Sept. 3 for immigration charges, officials said.
Escalante-Melgar and Cruz-Diaz are members of the international street gang Mara Salvatrucha, commonly known as “MS-13.” Multiple sub-sets, or “cliques,” of MS-13 operate in Hudson County including Pinos Locos Salvatrucha (the “Pinos clique”) and Hudson Locotes Salvatrucha (the “Hudson Locotes clique”).
Escalante-Melgar was the “First Word,” or leader, of the Pinos clique; Cruz-Diaz was the First Word of the Hudson Locotes clique.
MS-13’s edicts forbid gang members from cooperating with law enforcement, and violations call for punishment by death.
An MS-13 gang member is “green lighted” or targeted for killing after authorization by a clique leader, and in some cases, approval from gang leaders in California or El Salvador, according to officials.
This are the allegations against the defendants, according to officials.
- On Aug. 11, 2015, law enforcement intercepted a telephone call between a high-ranking MS-13 member in El Salvador, identified by officials as “Gang Leader-1,” Escalante-Melgar and another MS-13 member.
- During the call, Gang Leader-1 told Escalante-Melgar and the other MS-13 member that they needed to kill three individuals, including Victim-1, a member of the Hudson Locotes clique who was suspected of cooperating with law enforcement, officials said.
- Four days later, on August 15, 2015, law enforcement intercepted a telephone call between Cruz-Diaz and another MS-13 member.
- During that call, Cruz-Diaz confirmed that senior MS-13 members in El Salvador had authorized the green lighting – or murder – of Vicitm-1.
- Cruz-Diaz went on to state that the gang would likely assign members of another MS-13 clique to “watch” Victim-1 in preparation for the killing, authorities said.
- On the evening of Aug. 16, 2015, Escalante-Melgar spoke by telephone with another MS-13 member and confirmed that four individuals, including Victim-1, had been green lighted.
- Escalante-Melgar explained to the other MS-13 members that the gang would take its time carrying out the murders in order to prevent gang members from being arrested.
- On the evening on Aug. 31, 2015, Cruz-Diaz and Escalante-Melgar had separate telephone conversations with another member of MS-13. During the calls, the MS-13 member informed Cruz-Diaz and Escalante-Melgar that he had seen Victim-1 on the street in Union City, New Jersey.
- Cruz-Diaz ordered the MS-13 member to follow Victim-1 to see what time Victim-1 left and returned home.
- Cruz-Diaz informed the caller that another MS-13 member had previously been assigned to follow Victim-1.
- Escalante-Melgar likewise ordered the caller to follow Victim-1, and instructed the caller to contact Escalante-Melgar with developments.
The conspiracy charge can result in a life prison sentence.
The defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty.