Authorities Roundup 15 MS-13 Gang Members

Friday, Dec 12, 2008 - 08:10 PM

By Mike Bowersock

COLUMBUS, Ohio - -
Columbus Police, FBI, and agents from US Immigrations and Customs Enforcement raided 5 homes on the north side of Columbus today and arrested 15 men believed to be members of the notorious Hispanic crime gang MS13.

Their crimes range from ID theft to murder.

The 15 will be prosecuted and eventually deported but some of them have been deported before and have come back in to the country.

Commander Jeff Blackwell with Columbus Police says his department has had trouble getting cooperation from the Hispanic community because people are afraid that MS 13 will seek revenge.

They are known for brutal killings or as Blackwell calls them "message" killings.

It is believed all of those arrested today are from El Salvador.

Blackwell acknowledges there is a large presence of MS13 in Columbus with more than 100 members.

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