Pam Bondi, the attorney general under President Donald Trump, announced the apprehension of three individuals affiliated with the infamous MS-13 gang, indicating that additional arrests are forthcoming. The trio faces charges related to the nearly ten-year-old murder of a rival gang member, 22-year-old Gerson Vilelio Vasquez-Portillo, who was fatally attacked in Palm Beach, Florida, in 2015, as reported by the New York Post.
During her announcement in Fort Lauderdale, Bondi assured, “More arrests are coming.” She warned, “If you are a gang member residing in this country, I would advise you to self-deport immediately because we are actively pursuing you.”
According to The Post, the individuals charged include Jose ‘Chango’ Ezequiel Gamez-Maravilla, Wilber ‘Blue’ Rosendo Navarro-Escobar, and Hugo ‘Power’ Adiel Bermudez-Martinez, who are implicated in the brutal stabbing and shooting of the rival gang member in 2015.
Authorities noted that three other violent homicides in South Florida were also committed with knives or machetes. These cases were reopened in 2020 after initially going unsolved. Wilson Tirado-Silva, Miguel Cabrera Granados, and Melvin David Cruz-Ortiz were charged in connection with the stabbing death of 18-year-old Joel Antonio Canizales-Lara, who was killed for falsely claiming gang affiliation.
In another incident, 18-year-old Omar DeJesus Gutierrez was shot dead in 2015 after displaying a rival gang sign, an act allegedly ordered by MS-13 leader Tirado-Silva. He and Cruz-Ortiz also face charges for the 2015 murder of 25-year-old Chrislet Ondina, which was part of a gang initiation.
Bondi stated, “Nine MS-13 criminals have been removed from our streets, and four cold murder cases have been resolved, thanks to the exceptional investigative efforts of the FBI and our law enforcement partners.” She concluded, “Let this serve as a reminder: regardless of the time it takes, we will relentlessly pursue justice.”On Wednesday, the Department of Justice revealed that a senior figure within La Mara Salvatrucha, commonly known as the MS-13 gang, was apprehended in New York due to his alleged involvement in a conspiracy linked to 11 homicides.
Joel Vargas-Escobar, referred to as Momia, has been indicted in the District of Nevada on charges of racketeering conspiracy related to these 11 murders. Additionally, he faces two counts of murder in connection with racketeering, along with associated firearms offenses. Vargas-Escobar, who had previously been deported to El Salvador and subsequently re-entered the United States unlawfully, had evaded law enforcement for nearly four years, as stated in a press release.
Attorney General Pamela Bondi remarked, “The American public is safer with the arrest of yet another MS-13 leader, thanks to the efforts of the Department of Justice’s Criminal Division and Joint Task Force Vulcan. This individual entered our nation illegally and is accused of orchestrating 11 murders. Under President Trump’s administration, we are committed to dismantling this terrorist organization and ensuring its members are incarcerated.”
FBI Director Kash Patel added, “The capture of another violent and dangerous MS-13 leader represents a significant achievement for our FBI agents, law enforcement partners, and the safety of American streets. Our agents and analysts are consistently collaborating across various field offices and working with our esteemed partners to continue this vital work, and we will not cease until it is completed.”
The Justice Department’s press release further elaborated that MS-13 is a national and transnational gang primarily composed of individuals of Salvadoran and other Central American origins. The gang boasts over 10,000 members actively engaging in criminal activities across at least 10 states and Washington, D.C., with thousands more involved in similar activities in Central America and Mexico. MS-13 employs intimidation and violence, including murder, to further its objectives and enrich its members.
