Eight Alleged MS-13 Members, Including One from Silver Spring, Indicted
A federal grand jury has indicted a Silver Spring man and seven others alleging they are members of the MS-13, and from at least 2015 through September 2017, they were involved in murder, extortion and drug trafficking, according to a statement by the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
The Silver Spring man is Michael Eduardo Contreras, 22, aka “Katra,” aka “Insoportable,” the statement says.
According to the indictment, on March 27, Contreras arranged for members of a group within MS-13 called Sailors Clique to travel from Maryland to Lynchburg, Virginia, where they murdered a victim in Bedford County.
The indictment alleges that on June 16, Junior Noe Alvarado-Requeno, aka “Insolente,” aka “Trankilo,” 20, of Landover planned with and directed other MS-13 members and associates to murder an individual who was thought to be a member of the rival 18th Street gang in Gaithersburg.
The others named in the indictment are:
- Carlos Roberto Tejada Cruz, aka “Krusty,” 20, of Beltsville;
- Kevin Alexis Hernandez-Guevara, aka “Stop,” 20, of Landover Hills;
- Rolando Aristides Juarez-Vasquez, aka “Virus,” aka “Daffy,” 22, of Hyattsville;
- Jeffry Rodriguez, aka “Hyper,” 21, of Beltsville;
- Luis Fernando Orellana-Estrada, aka “Pinguino,” 18, of Hyattsville; and
- Donald Roberto Mendez-Lopez, aka “Chuckie,” 18, of Hyattsville.
All are in custody, according to the statement.
The defendants were members of the Sailors Clique who extorted owners of illegal businesses in the Langley Park and Wheaton areas, with the extortion proceeds being sent to El Salvador to benefit MS-13, the indictment says.
In addition, members of the Sailors Clique allegedly trafficked narcotics, including marijuana and cocaine in Langley Park with the proceeds benefiting the gang, the indictment says.
On July 29, 2016, Tejada-Cruz, Hernandez-Guevara and other members and associates of MS-13 planned another murder. After luring the victim to a secluded location, Tejada-Cruz tried to shoot the victim, and Tejada-Cruz and others stabbed the victim to death, according to the indictment.
The indictment also alleges that on Aug. 9, 2016, Tejada-Cruz, Hernandez-Guevara and Rodriguez planned a drug deal to buy marijuana. Hernandez-Guevara and Rodriguez tried to steal the marijuana by brandishing a gun and knife, and in the course of the robbery shot and stabbed two individuals, according to the indictment.
According to the indictment, on June 1, Juarez-Vasquez and other members and associates of MS-13 exchanged words with an individual near Adelphi, and threw MS-13 gang signs. Juarez-Vasquez shot the victim in the head, killing him, the indictment says.
Alvarado-Requino, Tejada-Cruz, Hernandez-Guevara, and Juarez-Vasquez face a maximum sentence of life in prison, the statement says. Rodriguez, Contreras, Orellana-Estrada and Mendez-Lopez face a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison for conspiring to participate in a racketeering enterprise, the statement says.
Tejada-Cruz and Hernandez-Guevara also face a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison for conspiracy to commit murder in aid of racketeering, the statement says. Orellana-Estrada and Mendez-Lopez also face a maximum of 20 years in prison for conspiring to interfere with interstate commerce by extortion, the statement says.
Contreras is also charged with conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute controlled substances, which carries a penalty of up to 20 years in prison. Orellana-Estrada and Mendez-Lopez have been charged with conspiracy to interfere with interstate commerce by extortion, which carries a possible sentence of 20 years in prison, the statement says.
Well, when you invite Trojans into your castle you can expect bloodshed.