Thread: Superseding Indictment Unsealed In Maryland MS-13 Gang Case

http://releases.usnewswire.com/GetRelease.asp?id=63654

Superseding Indictment Unsealed In Maryland MS-13 Gang Case

4/5/2006 7:22:00 PM


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To: National Desk

Contact: Vickie Leduc, 410-209-4885; Web: http://WWW.USDOJ.GOV/USAO/MD

GREENBELT, Md., April 5 /U.S. Newswire/ -- A federal grand jury has returned a superseding indictment in U.S. v. Israel Ramos Cruz, et al., United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Rod J. Rosenstein announced today. The 32-count superseding indictment includes numerous additional charges against the original 19 and three new defendants arising from a conspiracy to participate in a racketeering enterprise known as La Mara Salvatrucha, or MS-13. The superseding indictment was returned under seal on April 3, 2006, and was unsealed today upon the arrests of the additional defendants and the execution of search warrants. "Members of our Regional Anti-Gang Enforcement Task Force are working together and using all available federal law enforcement tools to prosecute violent gang members," said U.S. Attorney Rosenstein. "People who join gangs and commit violent crimes should expect to spend a very long time in federal prison." Today's arrests and searches are the result of the ATF's Regional Anti-Gang Enforcement (RAGE) Task Force working jointly with the FBI and Prince George's County Police Department, with assistance from other law enforcement agencies.

Count one of the superseding indictment re-alleges that the defendants were members of MS-13, an organized crime group that frequently engaged in criminal activity, with members operating in Prince George's and Montgomery counties. The superseding indictment adds counts two through 32 which charge various defendants with murder in aid of racketeering, assault with a deadly weapon in aid of racketeering, conspiracy to commit murder in aid of racketeering, use and carrying of a firearm during and in-relation to a crime of violence, murder resulting from the use and carrying of a firearm during and in-relation to a crime of violence, witness tampering, obstruction of justice, illegal alien in possession of a firearm and ammunition, and conspiracy to commit assaults with deadly weapons.

In addition to the six Maryland murders alleged in the original indictment, additional acts of violence alleged in the superseding indictment include the murder of a man on Jan. 21, 2005 when two MS-13 gang members shot at a crowd of youths sitting outside an apartment building in Fairfax, Va.; numerous assaults on an MS-13 gang member from El Salvador, juvenile females and rival gang members; and the use of deadly weapons and firearms in the commission of numerous murders, attempted murders and assaults. The superseding indictment further alleges that on July 22, 2004, Cruz, Ayala and Garcia falsely testified before a state grand jury in Prince George's County that was investigating the May 2004 murder of Ashley Antonio Urias.

The additional defendants indicted are Emilia Masaya, 20, of Adelphi, Md.; Lisbeth Delcid, 21, of Woodbridge, Va., and Wilbur Garcia Martinez, 20, of Montgomery County. Delcid is alleged to have assisted in buying a gun for use by MS-13 gang members; and was used as a conduit for passing information to and from defendant Zelaya, who was incarcerated, and other gang members. Masaya is alleged to have provided false information to a Montgomery County police detective who was investigating the murder of Randy Calderon; and falsely testified before a federal grand jury in Greenbelt, Md., that she did not know certain gang members, and had no knowledge about the murder of Randy Calderon. Martinez is alleged to have traveled with other gang members to Springbook High School in Montgomery County where two youths were assaulted and stabbed.

Each defendant faces a maximum sentence of life in prison for conspiracy to participate in a racketeering enterprise. In addition, Cruz, Bernal, Garcia, Moriera, Chacon, Argueta, Guillen, Palacios and Amador face a maximum penalty of life in prison or death for murder in aid of racketeering, and murder resulting from the use of a firearm in relation to a crime of violence. Cruz, Bernal, Garcia and Moriera also face a maximum penalty of life in prison or death for witness tampering. Initial appearances are being held this afternoon beginning at 1:30 before U.S. District Court Magistrate Judge Jillyn K. Schulze.

An indictment is not a finding of guilt. An individual charged by indictment is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.

U.S. Attorney Rosenstein expressed his appreciation for the outstanding cooperation and teamwork of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Prince George's County Police Department; U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement; the Montgomery County Police Department; the Howard County Police Department; the Maryland National Capital Park Police; the Maryland State Police and the Fairfax County, Virginia Police Department.

http://www.usnewswire.com/

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