Police say drug suspect belongs to MS-13 gang

By Dan McDonald/Daily News staff
GHS
Sat Jan 26, 2008, 12:15 AM EST

MARLBOROUGH -
Police Thursday night raided a Mechanic Street apartment and arrested on drug charges an alleged member of the Mara Salvatrucha gang - an El Savadorian gang commonly referred to as MS-13.

Roberto Cornejo, 37, of 177 Mechanic St. Apt. 3, was arrested following a two-month investigation. They found 3.5 grams of cocaine, estimated to have a street value of $150, hidden in a bathroom trash can, police said.

Police said they also found a machete, reported to be the gang's calling card, under a mattress, as well as boxes of packaging materials and cash.

Cornejo stood shackled during his arraignment in Marlborough District Court early yesterday afternoon. Judge Jonathan Brant ordered Cornejo held without bail.

Elva Magana, 30, of the same address, was arrested in the raid but has not been identified as a gang member. She faces the same drug-related charges and was released on $200 personal recognizance.

During the search, police said they found photographs of Cornejo displaying hand signs typically flashed by the MS-13 members.

"Roberto Cornejo was identified as a member of the Mara Salvatrucha gang," according to a statement released by Detective Lt. Robert Jusseaume Jr.

Founded in the early 1980s by El Salvadorian refugees well-versed in guerrilla warfare after fleeing that country's violence, MS-13 has grown since it was founded in Los Angeles.

Jared Lewis, director of No Gangs - a police consultant agency based in Wisconsin - estimated there are 8,000 to 10,000 MS-13 members living in one-third of the nation's largest cities.

The gang's calling card is a machete, said Lewis. Gang members often choose to hack their enemies to death instead of executing them with a gun to send a bold and bloody message to rival gangs, he said.

"They have a more violent reputation than other gangs," said Lewis.

Cornejo and Magana are both Salvadorian nationals, police said.

However, Cornejo's attorney, Charlie Hughes, has challenged the assertion that his client is a gang member. He said Cornejo denies the MS-13 connection.

"I'm always a little leery whenever I see those things in a police report," said Hughes.

When questioned by police, Cornejo had conflicting explanations for the cocaine in his bathroom. At first, according to court documents, Cornejo said he "bought it to use today."

After police said that Cornejo had sold drugs to undercover detectives on several occasions, he said he had bought the drugs for $125 with the intention of selling them for $175.

A kitchen worker at Embassy Suites in Marlborough, Cornejo was quoted in court documents as telling police he sold cocaine a "few times to get money."

His arrest record includes a spring 2006 arrest for possession of cocaine with intent to distribute.

Cornejo refused to name his supplier, stating "they're in the jails, they'll get me," according to court documents. Police reports do not elaborate on that statement and several calls to Marlborough Police were not returned yesterday afternoon.

Federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials are assisting with the investigation.

Cornejo and Magana will next appear in court Feb. 8.

Both are charged with possession of cocaine with the intent to distribute, possession with intent to distribute cocaine in a school zone, conspiracy to violate the controlled substance laws, and possession of cocaine. The school charge was filed because Cornejo's apartment is within 1,000 feet of Marlborough Childcare.

Cornejo also faces one charge of violating a restraining order. Magana filed that order against him.

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