MS-13 gang member in Indianapolis sentenced to a year in federal prison for illegally possessing a firearm

INDIANAPOLIS — An illegal alien from El Salvador, who is member of the violent street gang MS-13, was sentenced Wednesday to 366 days in federal prison for illegally possessing a firearm.   

This sentence was announced by U.S. Attorney Josh Minkler, Southern District of Indiana.  This 18-month investigation was conducted by the following agencies: U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), FBI, Columbus (Indiana) Police Department; and Franklin County (Indiana) Sheriff’s Office.

Jose Salvador Gonzalez-Campos, 27, a citizen of El Salvador, was found in the company of other known MS-13 gang member associates in the Columbus, Ohio, area.

On more than one occasion, investigators observed Gonzalez-Campos wearing a light blue backpack. In addition, photographs posted on a Facebook page associated with Gonzalez-Campos showed him wearing a light blue backpack.

After members of an FBI SWAT team executed a search of the Gonzalez-Campos’ Indianapolis residence on Aug. 15, 2017, agents took Gonzalez-Campos and three other alleged MS-13 gang members into federal custody.

During a subsequent search, agents located a light blue backpack similar to the one Gonzalez-Campos had been seen wearing. In the backpack, agents discovered a Salvadorian passport for Gonzalez-Campos; a stainless steel Taurus .357-caliber revolver and five rounds of ammunition.

In the same room, agents found a second passport with Gonzalez-Campos’ name and a photograph that depicted him in various poses with family members.

Illegal aliens cannot legally possess firearms.

After he completes his prison sentence, Gonzalez-Campos will be processed for deportation. 

MS-13

As part of Operation Community Shield, HSI has effected more than 4,300 criminal arrests and nearly 3,000 civil immigration arrests of MS-13 leaders, members and associates, including criminal arrests for Racketeering Influence Corrupt Organizations (RICO), Violent Crime in Aid of Racketeering (VICAR) and gang conspiracy violations investigated by HSI Baltimore, HSI DC, HSI Charlotte, HSI New York, HSI Long Island, HSI Newark, HSI Boston, HSI San Francisco, HSI San Jose, HSI Los Angeles, HSI Detroit, HSI Nashville, HSI Houston, and our state and local law enforcement partners

In October 2012, HSI worked with the U.S. Department of Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control to designate MS-13 as the first transnational criminal street gang as a TCO. As a result of the designation, any property or property interests in the United States, or in the possession or control of U.S. persons in which MS-13 has an interest, are blocked.

HSI’s National Gang Unit

HSI’s National Gang Unit oversees HSI’s expansive transnational gang portfolio and enables special agents to bring the fight to these criminal enterprises through the development of uniform enforcement and intelligence-sharing strategies.

To report suspicious activity, call ICE's 24-hour toll-free hotline at: 1-866-DHS-2-ICE or visit www.ice.gov.