Eight people connected to an MS-13 clique based in Baltimore County were indicted Thursday on federal racketeering charges.
What’s Happening: The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Maryland announced a superseding indictment against members of “Los Ghettos Criminales Salvatruchas,” a local MS-13 clique. The charges include RICO conspiracy, firearms trafficking, and drug trafficking.
What’s Important: The indictment names eight people ranging in age from 18 to 32. Two are from Owings Mills and six are from El Salvador and Honduras. Baltimore County Police started the investigation with help from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and other federal agencies.
Who Was Charged:
- Luis “Duke” Melendez Serrano, 19, of El Salvador
- Kevin Melendez Serrano, 23, of El Salvador
- Alex “30” Pena Martinez, 19, of Honduras
- William “36” “Midnight” “Oso” Rivera Nolasco, 19, of Owings Mills
- German “19” “Viejo Raro” “Raro” Lisandro Benites Moreno, 32, of El Salvador
- Melanie “Mala” Pina Verde, 22, of Owings Mills
- Joshua Palacios, 18, of El Salvador
- Nilson Montecinos, 21, of Honduras
The Charges: RICO conspiracy is a federal charge used to prosecute members of criminal organizations. It lets prosecutors charge people for taking part in an ongoing criminal enterprise, even if they didn’t personally commit every crime. The indictment says the group participated in firearms trafficking and drug trafficking.
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