“Socalj” for Borderland Beat
On June 7, 2023, the Sonora Prosecutor’s Office received, from the Transnational Anti-Gang Center (CAT) based in El Salvador, the request to apprehend 24-year-old Anderson Omar N. He is considered a priority target by El Salvador for being a member of Mara Salvatrucha, allegedly having committed various crimes, and being a fugitive from the anti-gang offensive imposed by President Nayib Bukele. “El Dino” fled El Salvador, traveled through Guatemala, and settled in Hermosillo, Sonora in 2020.
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 Members of the Mara Salvatrucha/MS-13 have sought refuge in Mexico to avoid being arrested by authorities in El Salvador and the United States. |
Maras in Mexico
Mara Salvatrucha/MS-13, as well as Barrio 18/18th Street, make up some of the most violent gangs in Central America, as its presence extends to El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras. However, the origins date back to the 1980s in Los Angeles, California, made up largely of refugees fleeing civil war in El Salvador. “Mara” refers to Central American gangs. “Salva” is an abbreviation for El Salvador and “Trucha” is street slang for clever or intelligent.
Through the MS-13’s creation of the “Mexico Program,” in 2012, expanding gang operations into Mexico, members seek to settle there. Several members have been captured in Mexico City (CDMX) and the State of Mexico (Edomex).
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| José Wilfredo Ayala-Alcantara, “El Indio de Hollywood” was one of the main leaders of MS-13, |
The most recent case was José Wilfredo Ayala-Alcantara, “El Indio de Hollywood,” a 56-year-old member who was wanted by the United States. He was believed to be second-in-command of the gang, founding the “Hollywood Clique/Program” and a shot caller after being deported from the US to El Salvador. He was one of the FBI’s Most Wanted Fugitives and was caught living under a false identity, hiding outside of Mexico City.
He allegedly “rose to become a leader of the Ranfla en Las Calles.” After being deported from the U.S. to El Salvador and incarcerated, Ayala-Alcantara was “elevated to be a member of the Ranfla Nacional” and “managed MS-13 operations in the United States, including drug trafficking,” the indictment alleged. In 2012, El Salvador’s President Mauricio Fuentes organized a truce between the gangs to reduce homicides in exchange for better treatment in prisons. Authorities identified El Indio as the architect of the agreement with “officials, politicians, and non-governmental organizations inside and outside of prison.” Former President Fuentes was recently sentenced to 14 years in prison for the agreements.
His arrest occurred, following a tip, at the Cuauhtémoc City Hall of CDMX on April 17, 2023. He was subsequently deported to El Salvador, arrested while in transit, and transferred to the Federal Court for the Eastern District of New York, as he faces narco-terrorism conspiracy charges alongside 12 other high-ranking MS-13 leaders.
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| Melvin David Cruz Ortiz, “Bigfoot,” was captured in Edomex having fled the US after being involved in at least 8 homicides in multiple states. |
At the beginning of February 2023, the capture of another MS-13 gang member was also announced. Melvin David Cruz Ortiz, “Bigfoot,” was also wanted by the US on federal charges in Florida due to his involvement in multiple homicides. US authorities believe he may be involved in at least eight homicides in Florida, New York, and Maryland, but have confirmed his participation in three of the crimes. According to police reports, Melvin David is part of the GLCS criminal group of MS-13 (Guanacos Lil Cycos Salvatruchas de la Mara Salvatruchas 13).
After the homicides occurred in Florida in late 2014, to early 2015, he fled the US to Mexico moved to Mexico. “Bigfoot’s” apprehension took place in Cuautitlán Izcalli, in Edomex. Once arrested, he was extradited to the United States.