18th Street Gang Member Sentenced to Over Seven Years in Prison for Conspiring to Obstruct a Criminal Investigation and Proceeding

Gave False Statements to Law Enforcement Concerning a Gang Murder He Witnessed

GREENBELT, MD—U.S. District Judge Roger W. Titus sentenced Jose Edy Molina Marquez, age 33, of Gaithersburg, Maryland, today to 94 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release for conspiracy to obstruct a criminal investigation and proceeding, in connection with the investigation of a murder that occurred on May 6, 2007.

The sentence was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Rod J. Rosenstein; Special Agent in Charge Theresa R. Stoop of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives—Baltimore Field Division; Chief Mark P. Sroka of the Gaithersburg Police Department; Interim Chief Mark Magaw of the Prince George’s County Police Department; Chief J. Thomas Manger of the Montgomery County Police Department; Chief Cathy Lanier of the Metropolitan Police Department; Chief Larry Brownlee of the Maryland National Capital Park Police - Prince George’s County Division; Montgomery County Sheriff Darren Popkin; Special Agent in Charge Richard A. McFeely of the Federal Bureau of Investigation; Montgomery County State’s Attorney John McCarthy; and Prince George’s County State’s Attorney Angela D. Alsobrooks.

“We take the crime of obstruction very seriously,” says ATF Special Agent in Charge Theresa Stoop. “In an effort to reduce violent crime and keep our communities safe, we rely on genuine and truthful witness statements that allow for law enforcement to conduct their investigations. Mr. Marquez wasted valuable resources and allowed the 18th Street gang members responsible for the shooting to be free, and on the streets to potentially harm others. This sentence should send a message to the public about how serious ATF is in fighting gang violence, and gang associated crimes.”

According to the plea agreement, Marquez, a native of El Salvador, was a member of the 18th Street gang, which originated in the Los Angeles, California area and operates in Central America and across the United States, including Maryland. 18th Street gang members sometimes wear tattoos and clothing bearing the number 18, to signify their membership in the gang. For example, Marquez had a tattoo of the word “Eighteen” across his back.

On the evening of May 5, 2007, Marquez and other 18th Street gang members and associates were gathered at a member’s residence in Hyattsville, Maryland. Late that night, Marquez got into his car with three other 18th Street gang members and Jose Felix Carcamo, who was at the residence as well. While Marquez drove the car, the other gang members assaulted Jose Felix Carcamo, finally shooting him twice in the head and killing him. Killing Carcamo helped the gang members maintain their position in the gang. After the shooting, Marquez returned to the residence in Hyattsville. Shortly thereafter, in order to protect the gang members responsible for the shooting, Marquez approached law enforcement officers at the scene of the shooting and provided false information, orally and in writing, that individuals other than gang members were responsible for the shooting. Marquez’ false statements prevented information concerning a possible federal offense, the murder of Jose Feliz Carcamo in aid of racketeering, from being communicated to law enforcement officers.

United States Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein commended the members of ATF-led Regional Area Gang Enforcement (RAGE) Task Force, including the Gaithersburg Police Department, the Prince George’s County Police Department, Montgomery County Police Department, Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office, and the Maryland National Capital Park Police - Prince George’s County Division, as well as the Metropolitan Police Department, the FBI, and the Montgomery County and Prince George’s County State’s Attorneys’ offices for their work in this investigation and prosecution.  Mr. Rosenstein thanked Assistant United States Attorneys William Moomau and Michael Pauzé, who prosecuted the case.