MS-13 LEADER SENTENCED TO LIFE IN PRISON ON RACKETEERING, MURDER AND FIREARMS CHARGES

Greenbelt, Md. – Israel Ramos Cruz, 30, of Wheaton, Md., was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Deborah K. Chasanow to life in prison after he was convicted of conspiracy to participate in a racketeering enterprise, conspiracy to commit murder in aid of racketeering, murder in aid of racketeering, witness tampering murder, murder resulting from use of a gun, assault with a dangerous weapon in aid of racketeering, being an alien in possession of a gun and ammunition, and to an additional consecutive 35 years in prison for two counts of use and carrying of a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence, announced U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland Rod J. Rosenstein.

“Joining MS-13 is a ticket to federal prison. Forty-nine alleged MS-13 gang members have been charged with federal crimes in Maryland. This young man will spend the rest of his life in federal prison, and some of the remaining defendants may face death sentences,” said U.S. Attorney Rosenstein. “Most Maryland jurisdictions have adopted anti-gang strategies that combine law enforcement, education and community awareness in a coordinated program to deter gang violence.”

According to testimony presented at the six week trial, Cruz, a/k/a “Taylor” or “Sastre,” and co-defendant Santos Maximo Garcia, 30, a/k/a “Curley,” conspired between at least 2001 and March 2007 to operate an MS-13 enterprise in Prince George’s and Montgomery Counties in Maryland through a pattern of racketeering activity which included eight murders in Maryland and one in Virginia; the use of deadly weapons including firearms, baseball bats, machetes, bottles or knives in the commission of numerous murders, attempted murders and assaults; assaults on an MS-13 gang member from El Salvador, juvenile females and rival gang members; kidnaping; obstruction of justice; and witness tampering.

Cruz was the leader of the Sailors Locos Salvatruchos Westside (SLSW) clique in Prince George’s County. Garcia collected and distributed dues from MS-13 members as a de facto treasurer for the SLSW clique. Cruz and other members of SLSW stabbed Osmin Alfaro Fuentes, a/k/a “Buso,” an MS-13 member from El Salvador on Jan. 1, 2003.

Gang members including Randy Calderon, a/k/a “Fenix,” murdered suspected rival gang member Eliuth Madrigal in Silver Spring, Md., on Nov. 22, 2003. Shortly thereafter, Cruz and others attempted to cover up the murder by painting the walls of the residence in which Madrigal had been repeatedly stabbed.

On Nov. 22, 2003, Cruz told Calderon that they wanted to “tag” (put graffiti on) a wall to “celebrate” the murder of Madrigal. In fact, Cruz had decided to kill Calderon because Calderon participated in the murder of Madrigal, which had not been sanctioned by MS-13, and they feared that Calderon would implicate himself and other gang members to law enforcement. It was another gang member who fatally shot Calderon.

On July 22, 2004, Cruz and Garcia falsely testified before a state grand jury in Prince George’s County that was investigating MS-13 and the May 2004 gang murder of Ashley Antonio Urias. During their sworn testimonies, Cruz and Garcia falsely and repeatedly indicated that they were not current MS-13 members and that they did not know many MS-13 members.

Between June 2002 and August 2005, Cruz and Garcia attended numerous MS-13 meetings, including one in which gang members watched a videotape of gang investigators from the Prince George’s County Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). Gang members identified investigating officers and agents, discussed ways to thwart law enforcement efforts and commented on the possibility of retaliation against police during several meetings.

“The successful investigation and prosecution of Israel Ramos Cruz demonstrates that ATF’s RAGE Task Force will not cease in our relentless pursuit to put violent gang members behind bars,” said ATF Special Agent-in-Charge Gregory K. Gant. “We hope that with each passing year of his sentence, Cruz ponders his decision to become a violent member of MS-13, and how that decision has now earned him a membership card to federal prison.”

Garcia faces a maximum sentence of life in prison for conspiracy to participate in a racketeering enterprise. U.S. District Judge Deborah K. Chasanow scheduled sentencing for Garcia on Aug. 15, 2008.

“This life sentence proves that violent crime does not pay and should send a message to anyone contemplating gang activity," said James A. Dinkins, Special Agent-in-Charge, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). "Successful cases such as this can only be accomplished through the joint efforts of federal, state and local law enforcement agencies."

To date, the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the District of Maryland has charged 49 gang members with various federal offenses, with 30 defendants charged in this RICO conspiracy case. Eighteen MS-13 members have been convicted in this RICO conspiracy case.

Two MS-13 gang members were convicted at trial in November 2006 of conspiracy to commit murder in aid of racketeering, conspiracy to participate in a racketeering enterprise and conspiracy to commit assaults with a deadly weapon. These two individuals are Oscar Ramos Velasquez, 23, of Baltimore, who was sentenced to 37 years in prison, and Edgar Alberto Ayala, 30, of Suitland, Md., who was sentenced to 35 years in prison.

Three MS-13 leaders were convicted at trial in April 2007 on all counts of the racketeering conspiracy involving murder, robbery, obstruction of justice and witness tampering These three individuals are Henry Zelaya, 23, of Woodbridge, Va., and Omar Vasquez, 29, of Alexandria, Va., who were both sentenced to life in prison, and Jose Hipolito Cruz, 28, of Lanham, Md., who was sentenced to 35 years in prison.

U.S. Attorney Rosenstein expressed his appreciation for the investigative work performed by the ATF; the Prince George’s County Police Department; the FBI; ICE; the Montgomery County Department of Police; the Howard County Police Department; the Maryland National Capital Park Police; and the Maryland State Police. The U.S. Attorney also recognized Prince George’s County State’s Attorney Glenn F. Ivey, and Montgomery County State’s Attorney John McCarthy, for the assistance that they and their offices provided.

U.S. Attorney Rosenstein also thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys James Trusty and Chan Park, who prosecuted the case.