Department of Justice Press Release

For Immediate Release
September 1, 2009 United States Attorney's Office
District of Maryland
Contact: (410) 209-4800

MS-13 Gang Member Pleads to Racketeering Conspiracy
Participated in a Murder and Other Acts of Violence

GREENBELT, MD—Jorge Rigoberto Amador, also known as Santo Diablo, age 33, of Hyattsville, Maryland, pleaded guilty today to conspiracy to conduct and participate in the racketeering enterprise activities of MS-13, announced United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Rod J. Rosenstein and Assistant Attorney General Lanny A. Breuer of the Criminal Division.

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 and Montgomery County, Maryland and elsewhere. MS-13 is a national and international criminal organization with approximately 10,000 members.

MS-13 is organized in “cliques,â€