29 Individuals Indicted in Racketeering Probe Targeting MS-13 Gang

Three-Year Investigation Links Suspects to Murder, Drug and Firearms
Trafficking

SAN FRANCISCO, Oct. 23 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Twenty-two individuals in
the San Francisco Bay Area were indicted on federal racketeering and other
charges arising from their participation in La Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13) gang,
the U.S. Department of Justice and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement
(ICE) announced today. Seven additional individuals were also charged with
non-racketeering offenses ranging from narcotics trafficking to firearms
trafficking, and attempted exportation of stolen vehicles.

At a news conference in San Francisco, the U.S. Attorney for the Northern
District of California Joseph P. Russoniello and ICE's Director of
Investigations Marcy M. Forman outlined details of the undercover
investigation, dubbed "Operation Devil Horns," in reference to MS-13's gang
sign. The investigation culminated today with the unsealing of the 52-count
indictment following the arrest yesterday of 26 of the indicted suspects. In
addition, two other individuals linked to the case were arrested yesterday
based upon charges contained in a criminal complaint. Finally, agents
involved in the take down also took custody of two suspects wanted on
outstanding murder warrants by the San Francisco Police Department.

The indictment alleges that 22 of the defendants are members of MS-13 based in
San Francisco's Mission District and Richmond, Calif., who agreed to conduct
the affairs of the gang by engaging in a variety of criminal offenses,
including murder, attempted murder, assault, robbery, extortion, witness
tampering, narcotics trafficking and the interstate transportation of stolen
vehicles. According to the indictment, the investigation linked the
defendants to various acts of violence committed in San Francisco and
elsewhere, including murder and attempted murder. In addition to filing
charges under the RICO Act (Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations),
seven of the defendants in the case are also accused of committing seventeen
specific violent crimes in aid of racketeering (VICAR), including one count
involving murder.

"There can be no doubt that the greatest threat to the peace and well-being of
so many of our communities in this district and throughout the country, for
that matter, is the lethal cocktail of drugs, gangs and guns. And among the
gangs we in law enforcement are determined to bring to heel, none is more
vicious, dangerous and indifferent to the rule of law than MS-13. They may
see themselves as heroes, may try to recruit members by emphasizing their
'machismo' and terrorize the community by engaging in acts of wanton violence,
but they are neither invisible nor invincible," said U.S. Attorney
Russoniello. "This coordinated effort by federal, state and local law
enforcement agencies is but one more steady step in the process of taking back
our communities and giving young people the chance to make meaningful good
long-life choices. . . alternatives to the often short-term gratification that
membership in a gang at best, offers.

While we are committed, we are not naive. Some may try to fill the vacuum
this take-down creates. For them, I suspect they will face the same fate as
these defendants do, though they may not have to wait as long to be brought to
justice. To any who still view these gangsters as heroes, I suggest they
acquaint themselves with the location of and visitor schedules for federal
prisons. They'll likely be spending a lot of their time there in the next
several years."

"This investigation and the ensuing arrests have dealt a serious blow to what
is arguably one of the most ruthless gang cliques currently operating in the
Bay Area," said Marcy M. Forman, director of the ICE office of investigations.
"As this case shows, transnational gangs like MS-13 thrive on violence,
violence that is often fueled by profits from their illegal activities. Left
unchecked, these activities threaten the welfare and safety of our
communities. Our goal in targeting these dangerous street gangs is to disrupt
their criminal activities and ultimately to dismantle the entire
organization."

As part of the investigation, ICE set up an undercover storefront in Richmond
disguised as an export warehouse. From that location, an undercover officer,
posing as a corrupt car exporter, purchased 16 vehicles which had been
allegedly stolen by MS-13 members and their associates from California
residents. In addition, an undercover officer also purchased several firearms
from one of the defendants between 2006 and 2007.

During the course of three years, the investigation led to the seizure of more
than 20 weapons, including three high-powered assault rifles, two machine
pistols and three shotguns. One of those shotguns was equipped with a high
capacity "magazine drum," allowing the weapon to be loaded with more than 20
rounds of ammunition at a time. In addition, agents involved in the case made
nine separate narcotics seizures involving cocaine and methamphetamine.

In a large-scale, targeted enforcement action carried out yesterday in San
Francisco and in the Reno, Nev., area, federal, state and local agents and
officers executed nearly two dozen search warrants and 20 arrest warrants
related to the case. In addition, agents served search and arrest warrants at
eight correctional facilities in California where 15 of the defendants named
in the indictment were already incarcerated on other charges.

Officers and agents from numerous federal, state and local law enforcement
agencies provided substantial support during yesterday's enforcement action,
including the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA); the California Highway
Patrol; the California Department of Justice; the California Bureau of
Narcotics Enforcement; the San Mateo County Gang Task Force; and the Richmond,
San Francisco and South San Francisco police departments. ICE received
assistance with the investigation itself from the DEA; the Bureau of Alcohol,
Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; the FBI; the California Highway Patrol; the
San Francisco Police Department; and other local law enforcement agencies. In
addition, the El Salvadoran National Police and ICE's Attache Office in El
Salvador aided with the case by conducting searches and interviews of MS-13
associates in El Salvador.

In addition to yesterday's criminal arrests, ICE agents also took 11 gang
members and gang associates into custody on administrative immigration
violations. Those individuals will be held by ICE pending a deportation
hearing before an immigration judge.

The arrests announced today are not the first stemming from the ongoing
investigation. During the course of the probe, 17 gang members have been
taken into custody on criminal charges, including firearms violations and
re-entry after deportation. Some of those individuals are among those named
in the new RICO indictment.

The investigation leading to yesterday's arrests is part of Operation
Community Shield, a comprehensive initiative launched by ICE in 2005 to
disrupt and dismantle transnational street gangs. Under Operation Community
Shield, ICE partners with federal, state and local law enforcement agencies to
target these violent organizations and their members for arrest, prosecution,
and, where applicable, deportation. Since 2005, ICE has arrested more than
11,100 gang members and associates from 890 different gangs as part of
Operation Community Shield. Of those arrested, 145 were gang leaders. To
date, 3,997 have been charged criminally, and 7,109 have been charged with
immigration violations and processed for removal.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Wai Shun Wilson Leung
of the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Northern District of California and
Trial Attorney Laura Gwinn of the Criminal Division's Gang Squad.

An indictment contains only allegations against an individual and, as with all
defendants, these defendants must be presumed innocent unless and until proven
guilty.

SOURCE U.S. Department of Justice

Department of Justice, +1-415-436-6958; or ICE, +1-949-337-9594