MS-13 Member Sentenced to 30 Years in Prison for Racketeering Related Charges

Today, a Maryland gang member was sentenced to 360 months in prison followed by five years of supervised release for his participation in the racketeering enterprise known as La Mara Salvatrucha, or MS-13, including his participation in two conspiracies to commit murder.

Acting Assistant Attorney General John P. Cronan of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney Robert K. Hur of the District of Maryland, Acting Special Agent in Charge Cardell T. Morant of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI); Chief Henry P. Stawinski III of the Prince George’s County, Maryland, Police Department; Prince George’s County State’s Attorney Angela D. Alsobrooks; Chief Douglas Holland of the Hyattsville Police Department; Chief Edward Hargis of the Frederick Police Department; Frederick County State’s Attorney J. Charles Smith; Chief J. Thomas Manger of the Montgomery County Police Department; and Montgomery County State’s Attorney John McCarthy made the announcement.

Selvin Raymundo Salazar aka “Inquieto,” 26, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Peter J. Messitte of the District of Maryland.  Salazar had previously pleaded guilty to conspiracy to participate in a racketeering enterprise, specifically, MS-13.

According to the statement of facts filed with his plea agreement, MS-13 is a national and international gang composed primarily of immigrants or descendants from El Salvador.  Branches or “cliques” of MS-13, one of the largest street gangs in the United States, operate throughout Prince George’s County, Montgomery County, and Frederick, Maryland.  MS-13 members are required to commit acts of violence within the gang and against rival gangs.  One of the principal rules of MS-13 is that its members must attack and kill rivals, known as “chavalas,” whenever possible.

According to the statement of facts filed with his plea agreement, from at least 2012 through at least 2014, Salazar was a member and associate of the Normandie Locos Salvatrucha (“NLS,” or “Normandie”) clique of MS-13.  Salazar admitted that on Feb. 28, 2013, and again on July 30, 2014, for the purpose of maintaining and increasing his position in MS-13, he, together with other members and associates of MS-13, conspired to murder victims that he and his co-conspirators had identified as chavalas.

Specifically, the defendant admitted that on Feb. 28, 2013, in the Lewisdale community of Prince George’s County, Maryland, he and members and associates of the Sailors Locos Salvatrucha Westside (“SLSW,” or “Sailors”) clique of MS-13 traveled in a vehicle, searching for chavalas.  Salazar was armed with a .380 caliber handgun that belonged to the Normandie clique.  After observing an individual that he and his co-conspirators believed to be a chavala (“Victim-1”), Salazar and a co-conspirator exited the car and approached Victim-1, who was standing with a companion.  Salazar’s co-conspirator took the handgun from Salazar and shot Victim-1, as Victim-1’s companion ran away.  Salazar and his co-conspirator ran back to the vehicle and he and the occupants of the vehicle fled.  Salazar then returned the .380 caliber firearm to the Normandie clique.

Salazar further admitted that on July 30, 2014, in Hyattsville, Maryland, he and at least two other members or associates of the Normandie clique of MS-13 approached three victims, named in the third superseding indictment as “Victim-5,” “Victim-6,” and “Victim-7.”  Two of Salazar’s co-defendants pulled out firearms and shot Victim-5 and Victim-6.  Victim-5 was struck seven times, with wounds to his upper torso, right arm, and face.  Victim-6 sustained a gunshot wound to his right side.  Prior to the shooting, Salazar and his co-conspirators had been informed by an associate of MS-13 that the victims were chavalas.  

Five of the shell casings recovered from the scene of the July 30, 2014 shooting were examined and determined to have been fired from the same firearm that fired casings recovered at other crime scenes, including the Feb. 28, 2013 murder, a murder that took place in Hyattsville, Maryland on Nov. 11, 2012, and a shooting that took place in Laurel, Maryland on March 28, 2014.

HSI Baltimore, the Prince George’s County Police Department, the Frederick Police Department, the Hyattsville City Police Department, the Montgomery County Police Department, and the Prince George’s County State’s Attorney’s Office investigated the case.  Trial Attorney Francesca Liquori of the Organized Crime and Gang Section and Assistant U.S. Attorneys William D. Moomau and Lindsay Eyler Kaplan of the District of Maryland are prosecuting the case.