http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/side2/3143728.html

Police, FBI tie more crimes to one gang
At least 20 MS-13 members have been nabbed and 5 charged

By PEGGY O'HARE
Copyright 2005 Houston Chronicle
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A notorious Central American gang tied to a Huffman child's shooting death has waged a war of violence across Houston since last year, culminating in a SWAT standoff that netted several arrests, police said Tuesday.

Five of the 20 arrested so far have been charged in connection with four homicides in the Houston area, including the slaying of 18-month-old Aiden Naquin, who was shot in the head while strapped in an infant car seat April 12.

Houston police would not identify the gang by name because of restrictions imposed by a departmental policy. It is believed to be the violent MS-13 gang, also known as Mara Salvatrucha.

Harris County sheriff's detectives have said they believe Miguel Angel Castro, 21, the man charged in the death of the Naquin child, is a member of MS-13. Houston police acknowledged the homicides they have investigated in recent weeks involved "multiple members of a single gang."

"Their crimes run the gamut, from robberies to gang rivalries — that kind of thing," said Houston Police Department Homicide Lt. Murray Smith, who was part of a three-week initiative that linked the homicides.

"In most cases, I believe, the victims were random ... Certainly, they targeted the Hispanic community." Smith said some of the suspects have admitted to being part of the gang.

Almost all of those arrested during the SWAT standoff last week and in the months leading up to it are believed to be illegal immigrants, Smith said. One was confirmed to be from the United States, he said.

Most claim to be from Mexico, while others are believed to be from El Salvador or Guatemala. The U.S. Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement will help Houston police determine the men's identities and nationalities.

Besides Castro, four others have been charged in other homicides.

•Edgar Rolando Gonzalez, 23, also known as "Shaggy" and "Chi," is charged with murder in the Feb. 16 shooting death of Isaac Bermudez, 18, at 7245 Hillcroft. The victim and another man were in an apartment parking lot when four men in a car drove up and asked to what gang they claimed membership before opening fire.
•Jairo Daniel Rodrigues, 22, and Miguel Camay Porex, 23, also known as "El Joker" and "Blackie," are each charged with murder in the Oct. 18 shooting death of Franco M. Lopez, 28, at 10201 Harwin. Lopez was sitting outside drinking a beer when two men confronted him and shot him numerous times, police said.
•Roger Francisco Palacios, 23, was charged last year with murder in the Nov. 20 death of Eustacio M. Garcia, 40, who was shot in the neck after a fight at a nightclub at 7633 Dashwood.
Police said more killings may be linked to the gang. They confirmed they are reviewing at least four other homicides but declined to give details on those cases Tuesday.

Many of the 20 arrested were caught last week when police went to an apartment in the 6400 block of West Bellfort to serve four arrest warrants for robbery and aggravated assault.

Some of the men were caught immediately when they tried to flee, but others stayed in the apartment and were arrested after a SWAT standoff. Castro, also known as "Emente," is believed to be the one who got away that night. He was arrested Saturday when police found him at an apartment in the 11300 block of Fondren.

Police said they linked the homicides to the same gang when five homicide investigators began studying the cases full-time last month, looking at ballistics evidence, witnesses statements and interviews with people. They started with a list of crimes linked by one gun.

During this three-week initiative, three more homicides occurred, involving the same gang — the toddler's shooting death in Huffman and two slayings in Houston.

Smith said he was surprised to find this many people involved in this much criminal activity in such a short time span.

"They're a very vicious group, like most of the gangs when they come to our attention ... Obviously, they have very little regard for human life," Smith said.

Smith said the members are located all across Houston.
The gang also is involved in drugs and immigrant smuggling, Smith said. He said there is no evidence to suggest any of the crimes were part of a gang "initiation." Some of the suspects told police they had jobs, but most are believed to have derived their income from robberies or illegal activity, he said.

Those suspects who are not charged with state crimes likely will be turned over to the federal government, Smith said.

The FBI, which assisted Houston police with the investigation, said the MS-13 gang problem is no more prevalent here than it is in other major cities, but Houston's proximity to the border contributes to its presence here.
"Our vision is to put these people out of business," said FBI spokesman Al Tribble. "These individuals have grown up with violence — they're desensitized to it."

The FBI has been working on the MS-13 gang for more than a year, Tribble said.
"We don't want these gangs to become organized," Tribble said. "I believe their objective is just to raise money, to obtain money. I'm not sure what they're doing with it."

peggy.ohare@chron.com