Four Alleged MS-13 Members Charged In Violent Racketeering Conspiracy

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                          Contact ELIZABETH MORSE

www.justice.gov/usao/md                                                     at (410) 209-4885

Baltimore, Maryland – Four Maryland men have been indicted in connection with a conspiracy to commit murder in aid of racketeering and murder in aid of racketeering:

Daniel Flores-Ventura, a/k/a “Necio,” age 24, of Aspen Hill, Maryland;

Vilas Sail Argueta-Bermudez, a/k/a “Happy,” a/k/a “Little Happy,” a/k/a “Enchilada,” age 31, of Aspen Hill , Maryland;

Willians Ernesto Lovos-Ayala, a/k/a “Tigre,” age 25, of Woodbridge, Virginia; and

Michael Campos-Lemus, a/k/a “Humilde,” age 24, of Aspen Hill, Maryland.

All of the defendants are in custody.

The indictment was announced by Acting United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Stephen M. Schenning; Special Agent in Charge Andre R. Watson of U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement – Homeland Security Investigations, Baltimore Field Office; Special Agent in Charge Gordon Johnson of FBI, Baltimore Field Office; Chief Barry M. Barnard of Prince William County, Virginia Police; and Chief Edward Hargis of the Frederick Police Department.

According to the indictment, the defendants allegedly engaged in murder conspiracy and committed a murder on July 16, 2015 in Montgomery County, Maryland. The victim had been reported missing on July 18, 2015 and his body was found on September 29, 2015 in Woodbridge, Virginia.

MS-13 is a national and international gang composed primarily of immigrants or descendants of immigrants 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 and Montgomery County, Maryland.  The defendants were allegedly members of the Uniones and Molinos Clique of MS-13.  The two count indictment alleges that from at least 2015 through September 2017, the defendants were members and associates of MS-13 who planned and committed murders, drug trafficking and extortions.

An indictment is not a finding of guilt.  An individual charged by indictment is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty at some later criminal proceedings.

Acting United States Attorney Stephen M. Schenning thanked HSI, the FBI, the Prince William Police Department and the Frederick Police Department. Mr. Schenning also commended Assistant United States Attorneys Kenneth Clark and Clinton Fuchs and Trial Attorney Catherine K. Dick of the Criminal Division’s Organized Crime and Gang Section who are prosecuting this case.