International Street Gang Leaders Accused of NJ Murder Plot, Drug Trafficking

A dozen top-ranking members of a violent international street gang, including a California man who claims to be their American leader, were indicted Thursday on racketeering, drug trafficking and other related crimes, the U.S. Attorney's Office said.

Jose Juan Rodriguez-Juarez, 34, is the alleged leader of the Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13) gang's "national program" that aimed to bring all of the gang's sects into the United States under a single leadership structure, U.S. Attorney Paul J. Fishman said.

Rodriguez-Juarez was aided by his deputies, Amilcar Romero, 44, and Joel Antonio Cortez, 40, Fishman said.

"Members and leaders of MS-13 allegedly conspired to bring all United States cliques under a central command," Fishman said. "According to the charges, the defendants wanted to use this new formalized structure to open new drug distribution channels facilitated by cartel alliances and bloodshed. 

"Today’s indictment reaches gang leaders and members responsible for crime and violence in New Jersey, whether they were on the streets of Jersey City or on smuggled cell phones in a California or Central American jail."

According to the indictment, the national program wanted to increase the nationwide collection of extortion proceeds, known as "rent," and use the collection networks to establish new drug distribution channels from coast to coast.

Rodriguez-Juarez and other gang leaders struck deals with the Mexican Mafia, a California prison gang and Mexican drug cartels to supply methamphetamine and other drugs at cheap prices to other MS-13 gang members on the East Coast, including New Jersey, Fishman said.

Three MS-13 leaders in El Salvador and sect leaders in New Jersey ordered the killing of a rival gang member in Hudson County last November, the indictment said. Authorities learned of the murder plot and managed to prevent it and arrest multiple conspirators, the indictment said.

Most of the gang's leaders conducted the criminal activity while in California, Virginia and El Salvador prisons by using contraband cell phones that were smuggled into the jails, the indictment said. 

Amilcar Romero, 45, and Joel Antonio Cortez, 40, served as two of Rodriguez-Juarez’s top deputies, according to the indictment. Cortez authorized the November 2013 murder plot in Hudson County, the indictment said.

Carlos Sandoval-Batres, 40, who is lodged in an Salvadoran prison, was a top member of the gang’s leadership in El Salvador and helped create the new “national program” in the United States, according to the indictment.

Sandoval-Batres, along with two other Salvadoran leaders, Jose Elias Garcia-Hernandez, 35, and Cristian Linares-Rodriguez, 34, also authorized the Hudson County murder plot, the indictment said.

Carlos Andrew Valdez, 27, served as the leader of a northern New Jersey clique known as “Hudson Locotes Salvatrucha," the indictment said. Marvin Garcia-Cruz, 31, served as the leader of another Hudson County clique, known as “Pinos Locos Salvatrucha," the indictment said.

They and three others have been charged for their roles in the Hudson County murder plot. They are scheduled to make their first court appearance on Friday.

"Dismantling violent gangs is a continuing priority for the FBI,” said Aaron T. Ford, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI, Newark Division. "Our efforts to address gang violence are not new, but we are working with our partners with increased manpower and increased urgency to address current circumstances. This cooperation is, and will continue to be, a critical factor for successfully defending threats that endanger the citizens of New Jersey."