Gang Members Allegedly Committed Two Murders and Three Attempted Murders; One Murder Victim Who Fled El Salvador to Escape MS-13 Threats Was Killed in Frederick
Greenbelt, Maryland - A federal grand jury returned a superseding indictment today charging the following defendants, all of Maryland, in connection with a conspiracy to participate in a racketeering enterprise known as the La Mara Salvatrucha, or MS-13:
Aldair Garcia-Miranda, a/k/a “Callado" and “Poseido," age 21, of Wheaton,
Selvin Raymundo Salazar, a/k/a “Little" and “Inquieto," age 23, of Wheaton, and
Raul Ernesto Landaverde-Giron, a/k/a “Decente" and “Humilde," age 25, of Silver Spring.
All of the defendants are in custody.
“Transnational criminal gangs inflict violence and fear upon our community," said Ivan Arvelo, Acting Special Agent in Charge Baltimore, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations. “Enforcement of gang-related crimes is a high priority for our agency. We appreciate opportunities to collaborate with our law enforcement colleagues to bring these violent criminals to justice."
The superseding indictment was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Rod J. Rosenstein; Acting Special Agent in Charge Ivan Arvelo of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI); Chief Mark A. Magaw of the Prince George’s County Police Department; Prince George’s County State’s Attorney Angela D. Alsobrooks; Chief Douglas Holland of the Hyattsville Police Department; Acting Chief Patrick Grossman 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.
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 and Montgomery County, Maryland, with a presence in Frederick. The defendants were members of the Normandie Clique of MS-13. For a period of time beginning at least in late 2013 or early 2014, Garcia-Miranda and Salazar served as leaders of the Normandie Clique in the area of Prince George’s County and Montgomery County.
The four count indictment alleges that from at least prior to 2012 through 2014, the defendants were members and associates of MS-13 who planned and committed murders, attempted murders and extortion.
More specifically, on Feb. 28, 2013, Salazar and other MS-13 members allegedly shot and killed an individual suspected of being a member of a rival gang.
The indictment further alleges that on Nov. 30, 2013, MS-13 members, including Garcia-Miranda and Landaverde-Giron, armed themselves with knives and a gun in order kill a person who had fled from El Salvador to Frederick, Maryland to escape an order to kill by MS-13 in El Salvador. They lured the victim to a wooded area between Greenwall Place and Hoke Place in Frederick, shot him in the head and stabbed him multiple times, killing him.
According to the indictment, on July 30, 2014, Garcia-Miranda, Salazar and other MS-13 members traveled to the 5700 block of 30th Avenue in Hyattsville, Maryland with guns to search for and shoot suspected rival gang members and others who were believed to have taken property from an MS-13 associate. They arrived at a nearby location where three individuals were walking. Garcia-Miranda and an MS-13 associate, while in the company of Salazar, fired multiple shots from handguns at the three victims, striking one victim seven times and another victim once.
All three defendants face a maximum sentence of life in prison for conspiring to participate in a racketeering enterprise. Garcia-Miranda and Salazar also face a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison for conspiracy to commit murder in aid of racketeering, and for attempted murder in aid of racketeering; and a mandatory minimum of 10 years in prison consecutive to any other sentence and a maximum sentence of life in prison for using a gun to conspire to commit murder in aid of racketeering and attempted murder in aid of racketeering.
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.
United States Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein commended the HSI Baltimore, Prince George’s County Police Department, Frederick Police Department, Hyattsville Police Department, Montgomery County Police Department, Prince George’s County State’s Attorney’s Office and its Strategic Investigations Unit, Frederick County State’s Attorney’s Office and Montgomery County State’s Attorney’s Office for their work in the investigation. Mr. Rosenstein also recognized the Prince George’s County Sheriff’s Office, Prince George’s County Department of Corrections, HSI Baltimore’s Operation Community Shield Task Force, and the Maryland Department of Corrections Intelligence Unit for their assistance. Mr. Rosenstein thanked Assistant United States Attorneys William D. Moomau and Lindsay Eyler Kaplan, who are prosecuting this case.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
