10 MS-13 gang members indicted on murder, racketeering charges

GALVESTON, Texas – Ten alleged MS-13 gang members were indicted Aug. 24 by a federal grand jury for various crimes including racketeering conspiracy, murder, attempted murder, conspiracy to murder in aid of racketeering (VICAR), firearms charges and obstruction of justice as a result of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation that included Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Houston, as well as various federal, state and local law enforcement agencies.

The 10 individuals indicted included Franklin Trejo-Chavarria, 25; Julio Vigil-Lopez, 25; Walter Antonio Chicas-Garcia, 25; Luis Ernesto Carbajal-Peraza, 30; Carlos Alexi Garcia-Gongora, 24; Wilson Jose Ventura-Mejia, 26; Angel Miguel Aguilar-Ochoa, 37; Marlon Miranda-Moran, 23; Wilman Rivas-Guido, 26; and Carlos Elias Henriquez-Torres, 22. All ten defendants are citizens of El Salvador. Specific criminal charges for each defendant included at the end of the news release.

All defendants are in the custody of U.S. law enforcement except Trejo-Chavarria and Vigil-Lopez, who are both currently located in El Salvador.

According to allegations in the indictment, the defendants were leaders and members of La Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13) and responsible for seven murders, one attempted murder and one murder conspiracy. The seven murders allegedly took place between 2015 and 2018 and included a range of victims to include the killing of a juvenile female and a police informant. The murders also included multiple acts of mutilation and dismemberment with machetes, according to the charges.

The indictment also alleges that around 2015, and continuing through today, the defendants engaged in a racketeering conspiracy involving murder, extortion, drug trafficking, robbery, and obstruction of justice. The murders and other crimes charged in the indictment were allegedly committed in the Southern District of Texas and the District of Maryland.

The investigation has revealed that these criminal acts were committed to maintain the gang’s control, to retaliate against rival gangs and to seek retribution against those who were believed to have cooperated with law enforcement against the gang, according to the indictment. Leaders in El Salvador and elsewhere allegedly authorized the acts to ensure individual members and cliques followed the customs, rules, and protocols of the larger MS-13 enterprise.

“The charges in this case reflect the Justice Department’s commitment to dismantling and disrupting MS-13, a criminal organization that sows violence, terror and fear in communities across the country,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “We will continue to work closely alongside our law enforcement partners to root out criminal organizations wherever they exist and break the cycles of violence that they perpetuate.”

“Protecting the safety of our communities is fundamental to what we do at the FBI,” said FBI Director Christopher Wray. “This indictment is one example of the persistent work being done by the FBI and our partners to combat violent gangs like MS-13 that inundate communities with violence. The FBI is committed to reducing violent crime and combating the threat criminal enterprises pose. We are proud to work alongside our local, state, tribal and federal enforcement partners in bringing violent members of criminal organizations like MS-13 to justice.”

“This case is an important step in curbing crime in Texas and a message to criminal organizations that federal authorities are working with local law enforcement to stop the violence,” said U.S. Attorney Jennifer B. Lowery for the Southern District of Texas. “The charges in this case are extensive and violent. We will continue the fight and will stop at nothing to bring those who we believe are putting our communities at risk to justice.”

“This indictment is a testament to the strong partnerships we have with our federal and local agencies to help bring violent gang offenders to justice,” said Houston Police Chief Troy Finner. “We thank our partners and look forward to working together to help keep our communities safe.”

Other agencies that participated in the investigation included the FBI, Houston Police Department, Galveston Police Department, Prince George’s County (Maryland) Police Department and Texas Department of Public Safety. The Drug Enforcement Administration and U.S. Marshals Service assisted with the investigation.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Britini Cooper and John M. Lewis are prosecuting the case along with Trial Attorneys Julie A. Finocchiaro, Matthew K. Hoff and Gerald A. Collins from the Criminal Division’s Organized Crime and Gang Section.

For more news and information on HSI Houston’s efforts to keep Southeast Texas communities safe from transnational gangs and other violent criminal activity follow us on Twitter @HSIHouston.

An indictment is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence. A defendant is presumed innocent unless convicted through due process of law.