An illegal alien and MS-13 gang member from El Salvador was
convicted today by a federal jury of using physical force to tamper with a
witness; being an illegal alien in possession of a firearm; illegally
re-entering the United States after previously being deported; multiple counts
of cocaine distribution; and multiple counts of other firearms violations,
announced Assistant Attorney General Brian A. Benczkowski of the Justice
Department’s Criminal Division and U.S. Attorney Don Cochran of the Middle District
of Tennessee.
Gerson Serrano-Ramirez, aka “Frijole,” 31, was indicted in
August 2017 and convicted today after a three-day jury trial in U.S. District
Court in Nashville, Tennessee.
“MS-13 is one of the most violent and dangerous gangs in
America, and the conduct that occurred in this case is further evidence of the
gang’s ruthlessness,” said Assistant Attorney General Benczkowski. “The Department of Justice and our law
enforcement colleagues are committed to combatting MS-13 here in the Middle
District of Tennessee and in every other jurisdiction where the gang
operates. We will seek out members of
MS-13 and other violent gangs wherever they may be and prosecute them to the
fullest extent of the law.”
“The jury’s verdict will ensure that another violent
criminal alien will be removed from our community for a very long period of
time and he will have little, if any chance of ever inflicting harm outside of
his new home - a federal penitentiary,” said U.S. Attorney Cochran. “I commend the excellent work of our law
enforcement partners and our prosecutors and appreciate the jury’s time and
attention during this trial.”
According to evidence and testimony presented at trial, in
July 2017, the activities of Serrano-Ramirez and other MS-13 gang members were
disrupting the normal operation and business of a local nightclub and this was
brought to the attention of Serrano-Ramirez by an acquaintance, with a request
to tone down their disruptive behavior.
Serrano-Ramirez later invited the individual to his home in the Antioch,
Tennessee area, where he subsequently assaulted him by pointing an assault
rifle at him; strangling him with the rifle strap; spraying bleach into his
eyes and then attempted to suffocate him by placing a plastic bag over his
head. Finally, while clamping the
individual’s finger with a pair of pliers and holding an assault rifle on him,
Serrano-Ramirez told the individual that if he told anyone about the assault
that he would kill him and his mother.
Evidence introduced during the trial also included video of
the assault which was captured on an in-home security system at
Serrano-Ramirez’ house and videos of him packaging and selling cocaine from the
residence. This video was discovered and
seized during the subsequent execution of a search warrant. Also seized during this search was an AK-47
assault rifle, multiple rifle magazines, 582 rounds of ammunition, body armor
and a small amount of cocaine and marijuana.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol,
Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration;
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations and
the Metropolitan Nashville Police Department Gang Unit. Trial Attorney Matthew Hoff of the Criminal
Division’s Organized Crime and Gang Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Ahmed
Safeeullah of the Middle District of Tennessee.
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