CHARLOTTE, N.C. – U.S. Attorney Dena J. King announced that six alleged members of the La Mara Salvatrucha, or MS-13 gang, have been charged with racketeering charges, according to a news release.
The release states that four individuals were charged with racketeering conspiracy. They are 26-year-old Fredy Mauricio Buruca (“Piranha,” “Machete” and “Insoportable,”) from Salisbury, North Carolina, 32-year-old Santos Guillermo Ramirez Mancia (“Azazel,” “Timido” and “Johnny”) from Annapolis, Maryland, 30-year-old Juan Francisco Sanchez Estrada (“Nene” and “Turbo”) from Salisbury and 26-year-old Luis Fernando Guardardo Moreno (“Fantasma” and “Scrappy”) from El Salvador.
The other two individuals were charged with murder in aid of racketeering activity, as said in the release. They are 31-year-old Christian Alejandro Garcia Santa Cruz (“Crimen”) from Annapolis and 30-year-old Aderly Jose Veliz-Ronquillo (“Chanchin”) from Annapolis.
Mancia was also charged with accessory after the fact to murder in aid of racketeering.
“Street gangs threaten the well-being of our communities and spread violence, fear, and intimidation,” said U.S. Attorney King. “Our coordinated law enforcement efforts prioritize the investigation and prosecution of dangerous gangs to dismantle their operations and disrupt their criminal activities.”
“Finding, arresting and prosecuting those involved in gang activity greatly increases public safety and makes a dramatic impact in our communities,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Burns. “Cases like this reflect that great work that we and our law enforcement partners do to protect the homeland.”
“Violent gangs including MS-13 can wreak havoc in our communities. The FBI is committed to working with our local, state, and federal partners to target and dismantle gangs that threaten the safety and stability of our neighborhoods,” said Special Agent in Charge DeWitt.
According to allegations in the indictment, the defendants were leaders and members of an MS-13 sub-unit and engaged in racketeering activity that consisted of multiple acts and threats involving murder, kidnapping, extortion, robbery and drug trafficking.
An investigation revealed that the criminal acts were authorized by MS-13 leadership and were intended to promote fear and intimidation within the gang, maintain the gang’s control, expand the gang’s territory, enforce discipline within the gang and discourage cooperation with law enforcement, according to the release.
