Alleged MS-13 Gang Member Caught In Loudoun

[Brian503a]

http://www.leesburg2day.com/current.cfm ... wsid=12422

Alleged Gang Member Caught In Loudoun
Dan Telvock



Aug 25, 2006 -- An alleged MS-13 gang member convicted of murder who escaped from a prison in El Salvador was captured in Loudoun County in July.

Loudoun Sheriff’s Office spokesman Kraig Troxell explained that the authorities didn’t release details of the capture because they weren’t positive the person was Juan Elias Rodriguez-Luna. Confirmation that the person was Rodriguez-Luna came Wednesday, he said.

“He was under a false name,” Troxell said. “We believed it was this guy.”

The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the Loudoun Sheriff’s Gang Intelligence Unit investigated the case. Luna escaped from the Ciudad Barrios Prison in El Salvador in August 2005. He was serving time for homicide and is an alleged MS-13 gang member, Troxell said.

Troxell said the gang intelligence unit gained information that Rodriguez-Luna was hiding in Loudoun County. On July 27, deputies and ICE agents located who they believed was Rodriguez-Luna in a vehicle on Rt. 7 in the Ashburn area. He was detained on immigration charges, Troxell said.

"This arrest is an excellent example of how we used all of our tools in a unified approach to ensure that our country is not a safe haven for fugitive criminals from around the world,” said Mark McGraw, special agent-in-charge of the Office of Investigations in Washington, in a prepared statement. "We will continue working with our law enforcement partners here and abroad to identify and arrest those criminals seeking to evade justice by attempting to hide in the United States. Our message is clear: you will be found and arrested."

Troxell said that investigators believe Rodriguez-Luna was staying at various residences in the Northern Virginia area for the past four months. He is currently in federal custody awaiting deportation and fugitive hearings.

[steelerbabe]

Another example of why I got out of Northern Va.

[swatchick]

There have been numerous illegals who are gang members caught in Dade County Florida during gang sweeps. They are often found living in trailer parks and carry fake ID. We are very fortunate that Miami Dade Police Department have a great gang unit and are involved in task forces with ICE and other agencies and are able to get these people off the streets quickly. The only problem is that these gang members are like a bad rash and return. It seems like every couple of months you read about the arrests of illegals who are gang members. Thank goodnes they get nabbed fairly quickly in South Florida.

[had_enuf]

Our message is clear: you will be found and arrested.

I wonder how many more tens of thousands they have to go.

It seems like every couple of months you read about the arrests of illegals who are gang members. Thank goodnes they get nabbed fairly quickly in South Florida.

Yeap, they catch 'em, send 'em home for a two-week vacation, and they return bringing more with them.

BUILD THE WALL!

[CountFloyd]

Our message is clear: you will be found and arrested.

I've got a better idea: How about stopping them before they ever get here?

[Brian503a]

http://washingtontimes.com/metro/200608 ... -1544r.htm

Fugitive convict held in Loudoun
By Tarron Lively
THE WASHINGTON TIMES
Published August 26, 2006

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A convicted killer and suspected member of the street gang MS-13 who escaped from a prison in El Salvador last year has been apprehended in Loudoun County by local and federal authorities.

Juan Elias Rodriguez-Luna, 24, was apprehended late last month, nearly 11 months after he escaped from the Ciudad Barrios prison in El Salvador, where he was serving time for murder.

The investigation was a joint effort between the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the Loudoun County Sheriff's Gang Intelligence Unit, who learned earlier this summer that Rodriguez-Luna was hiding out in the area.

MS-13, or Mara Salvatrucha, is considered one of the most dangerous and violent street gangs in the U.S.

"This arrest is an excellent example of how we used all of our tools in a unified approach to ensure that our country is not a safe haven for fugitive criminals from around the world," said Mark McGraw, special agent in charge of the ICE Office of Investigations in the District.

Rodriguez-Luna is one of a number of prisoners who have escaped in recent years from Ciudad Barrios, a penitentiary in San Miguel. Since 2001, about 40 inmates have managed to escape, according to Hispanic news site www.laprensagrafica.com.

On July 27, Rodriguez-Luna was located in a vehicle on Route 7 in the Ashburn area. Initially he was detained on immigration charges and it was discovered earlier this week that he had escaped from an El Salvador prison.

Rodriguez-Luna had been staying at various residences in Northern Virginia for about the past four months, investigators said.

He is now in federal custody awaiting deportation and fugitive hearings, authorities said.

"We will continue working with our law-enforcement partners here and abroad to identify and arrest those criminals seeking to evade justice by attempting to hide in the United States," Mr. McGraw said. "Our message is clear: You will be found and arrested."

The FBI has said an estimated 10,000 MS-13 members are in the United States. Others estimate the gang's membership to be as high as 30,000.

The largest concentrations are in Virginia, Maryland, New York and California.

The FBI has estimated the MS-13 membership in Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador to be at 50,000.