MS-13 Targeted in Gang Sweep, 37 Indicted

Courtney Francisco,

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CHARLOTTE, NC — 37 suspected members of a notoriously dangerous gang, MS-13 are in jail after FBI agents and law enforcement raided their Charlotte area homes Wednesday.

16 were arrested Wednesday morning, 16 were already in jail for state charges and 5 are still on the run.

It’s the second large gang bust in the last 30 days in the Queen City.
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75 pages of indictments are packed with crimes of the 37 accused MS-13 members, crimes centered mostly in Charlotte and Rock Hill.
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They include drug trafficking, brutal robberies, assaults and four murders.
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“We got a lot of children, small babies, teens in this neighborhood, ” said Gene Harper. “That’s not good.”
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Harper’s family lives in a South Charlotte neighborhood off Sharon Lakes Road, where US Attorneys say MS-13 member Miguel Zelaya murdered Jose Ibarra in 2013.
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Federals say the suspects lived in Charlotte, Kannapolis, Concord and Rock Hill.
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“They’re willing to shoot indiscriminately when they conduct their acts of violence,” said Former FBI Assistant Director Chris Swecker. “They’ll intimidate witnesses, they’ll force young women into prostitution, engage in extortion, drugs.”Β 
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Swecker says while local communities denied gang problems for years, federal agents have busted members of MS-13 for at least a decade.
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“There was a decision made a long time ago that this gang presented a danger to every community where they had a presence,” said Swecker.
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As part of Wednesday’s gang raid, officers arrested Christian Pena and Luis Ordonez-Vega.
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Prosecutors accused them of murdering Noel Hernandez in 2014 on Old Pineville Rd. Β 
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Nicole Villagomez’s husband is one of the suspected gang members charged with Rackateering.
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“We were bum-rushed at 5:00 in the morning, FBI bust in saying my husband was part of the MS-13 gang which he has nothing to associate with them,” said Villagomez.
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The suspects will be back in Federal Court May 26 for detention hearings.
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The five on the run are Salvador Ruiz of Kannapolis, Luis Villalta of El Salvador, Miriam Barilles-Escamilla of El Salvador, Marvin Fuentes-Canales of El Salvador and Neris Gutierrez of Guatemala.Β 
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The list of 37 indicted include:
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Γ―β€šΒ· Carlos Almote a/k/a β€œRabioso,” 25, of Charlotte. (in state custody)
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Γ―β€šΒ· Jose Danny Argueta a/k/a β€œShadow,” 23, of Charlotte. (in state custody)
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Γ―β€šΒ· Miriam Barilles-Escamilla a/k/a β€œGata,” 26, of El Salvador. (not arrested)
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Γ―β€šΒ· Juan Bergamasco-Suarez a/k/a β€œTemper” or β€œKilo,” 21, of Charlotte. (in stateΒ 
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custody)
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Γ―β€šΒ· Milton Chavarria a/k/a β€œSyko,” 23, of Charlotte. (in state custody)
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Γ―β€šΒ· Raul Contreras a/k/a β€œSmoke,” 24, of Charlotte. (in state custody)
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Γ―β€šΒ· Luis Erazo a/k/a β€œJoker,” 24, of Honduras. (arrested)
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Γ―β€šΒ· Marvin Fuentes-Canales a/k/a β€œCrazy,” 22, of El Salvador. (not arrested)
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Γ―β€šΒ· Luis Funes-Rivera a/k/a β€œDemonio,” 20, of Charlotte. (in state custody)
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Γ―β€šΒ· Jorge Garcia a/k/a β€œShorty,” 25, of Charlotte. (arrested)
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Γ―β€šΒ· Cesar Garcia-Perez a/k/a β€œVikingo,” 35, of Charlotte. (in state custody)
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Γ―β€šΒ· Saul Gavidia a/k/a β€œScrappy,” 20, of Landis, N.C. (arrested)
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Γ―β€šΒ· William Gavidia a/k/a β€œDuro,” 23, of Kannapolis, N.C. (arrested)
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Γ―β€šΒ· Raul Guardado a/k/a β€œGuanaco,” 42, of Charlotte. (arrested)
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Γ―β€šΒ· Neris Gutierrez a/k/a β€œOso” or β€œFurioso,” 26, of Guatemala. (not arrested)
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Γ―β€šΒ· Angel Hernandez a/k/a β€œTaz” or β€œMagic,” 24, of Rock Hill, S.C. (arrested)
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Γ―β€šΒ· Jose Manuel Linares a/k/a β€œChepito,” 21, of Charlotte. (arrested)
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Γ―β€šΒ· Rene Lopez-Ventura a/k/a β€œMafioso,” 32, of Charlotte. (arrested)
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Γ―β€šΒ· Jose Moran-Celis a/k/a β€œLil Silent,” 20, of Charlotte. (arrested)
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Γ―β€šΒ· Daniel Navarro a/k/a β€œLunatico,” 21, of Charlotte. (in state custody)
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Γ―β€šΒ· Jonathan Noble a/k/a β€œGhost,” 22, of Charlotte. (arrested)
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Γ―β€šΒ· Luis Ordonez-Vega a/k/a β€œBig Boy,” 36, of Concord, N.C. (in state custody)
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Γ―β€šΒ· Christian Pena a/k/a β€œPitbull,” 19, of Charlotte. (in state custody)
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Γ―β€šΒ· Jorge Perez a/k/a β€œJP Bukie,” 30, of Charlotte. (arrested)
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Γ―β€šΒ· Victor Pineda a/k/a β€œChele,” 23, of Charlotte. (arrested)
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Γ―β€šΒ· Rosendo Rivas a/k/a β€œJester,” or β€œDemonio” or β€œNene” 24, of Rock Hill. (in stateΒ 
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custody)
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Γ―β€šΒ· Fec Rodriguez-Vareal a/k/a β€œChelito,” 28, of Charlotte. (arrested)
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Γ―β€šΒ· Salvador Ruiz a/k/a β€œChava,” 26, of Kannapolis. (not arrested)
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Γ―β€šΒ· Jorge Sosa a/k/a β€œKoki” or β€œLoco,” 23, of Charlotte. (in state custody)
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Γ―β€šΒ· Oscar Trejo a/k/a β€œTrigger” or β€œMaliente,” 23, of Charlotte. (in state custody)
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Γ―β€šΒ· Jaime Turcios a/k/a β€œPitufo” or β€œSmurf,” 24, of Charlotte. (arrested)
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Γ―β€šΒ· Jose Vasquez a/k/a β€œMuneco,” 26, of El Salvador. (arrested)
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Γ―β€šΒ· Marlon Vasquez-Maldonado a/k/a β€œGangster,” 23, of Charlotte. (in state custody)
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Γ―β€šΒ· Albert Vela-Garcia a/k/a β€œConejo,” 25, of Landis. (arrested)
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Γ―β€šΒ· Luis Villalta a/k/a β€œLittle Psycho,” 25, of El Salvador. (not arrested)
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Γ―β€šΒ· Alexis Villalta-Morales a/k/a β€œRikichi,” 23, of Charlotte. (in state custody)
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Γ―β€šΒ· Miguel Zelaya a/k/a β€œMost Wanted,” 19, of Charlotte. (in state custody)

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