“The Department of Justice and our law enforcement partners will not yield, and we will hold MS-13 members accountable for their crimes, whether in prisons or on the street.” Director Durham extended his sincere appreciation to all members of JTFV, especially the FBI, HSI and BOP’s National Gang Unit, who spearheaded this investigation.Īs alleged in the indictment unsealed today: “Even while incarcerated, MS-13 members remain committed to the organization’s violent ideology and, as alleged in this indictment, continue to engage in extreme acts of murder and attempted murder,” stated Director Durham. “This indictment demonstrates our commitment to disrupting and dismantling this threat.” “Transnational violent gangs are a significant threat to our national security whether they are entrenched within our communities or incarcerated in our correctional facilities,” said Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Houston Special Agent in Charge Mark Dawson. The FBI remains resolute in our commitment to continue working side by side with our law enforcement partners to defeat and deter gang violence anywhere it occurs.” In support of this massive investigation, we completed over 100 interviews, conducted over 60 searches, reviewed hours of surveillance footage, and seized countless weapons and contraband. “The FBI served as a force multiplier and the lead investigative agency for this case immediately following the murders. “Disrupting dangerous plots that can arise from gangs like MS-13 in the federal prison system, as alleged in today’s indictment, is a matter of utmost importance for the FBI and to me personally as a former supervisory special agent for the MS-13 National Gang Task Force Unit in the Criminal Investigative Division at Headquarters,” said FBI Houston SAC James Smith. “Any prisoner who causes physical injury to another, inmate or corrections officer, will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.” “Deterring prison violence remains a priority for the Department,” said Eastern District of Texas U.S. The charges in the Indictment relate to the planning and execution of a violent attack orchestrated by members of MS-13 against Mexican Mafia and Sureños associates that resulted in two deaths, two attempted murders, and a nationwide lockdown of all inmates in the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) for almost a week. Durham, announced today the charges in the 15-count indictment against the MS-13 members identified below. Attorney for the Eastern District of Texas Brit Featherston, along with FBI Houston SAC James Smith, Homeland Security Investigations Houston SAC Mark Dawson, and Joint Task Force Vulcan Director (JTFV) John J.
All seven defendants are in federal custody. Penitentiary Beaumont, who are members of the violent transnational criminal organization La Mara Salvatrucha, also known as the MS-13, for their involvement in a deadly prison attack on rival gang members on Jan. BEAUMONT, Texas – A federal grand jury in the Eastern District of Texas returned an indictment this week in Beaumont charging seven inmates at U.S.