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United States Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein
District of Maryland

For Immediate Release
Wednesday,October 31, 2007 CONTACT: AUSA VICKIE E. LEDUC
at (410) 209-4885
Fax: (410) 962-3091

http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/md


MS-13 GANG MEMBER PLEADS GUILY TO RACKETEERING CONSPIRACY


Participated in the Murder of One Girl and the Shooting of Another
GREENBELT, M.D. — James Guillen, also known as Toro, age 21, of Hyattsville, Md., pleaded guilty today after the jury was selected to conspiracy to conduct and participate in racketeering enterprise activities of an MS-13 gang, announced U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland Rod J. Rosenstein and Assistant Attorney General Alice S. Fisher of the Criminal Division.

"We will continue to coordinate our efforts and use all available tools to combat violent gangs," said U.S. Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein.

According to the plea agreement, La Mara Salvatrucha, also known as MS-13, is a gang composed primarily of immigrants or descendants of immigrants from El Salvador, with members operating throughout Prince George’s County, Md., Montgomery County, Md., and elsewhere. MS-13 is a national and international criminal organization with approximately 10,000 members.

MS-13 is organized in “cliques,â€