Twelve members of a violent transnational criminal organization have been indicted for kidnapping, murder, robbery, witness tampering, and drug trafficking.
The group, “18th Street,” is facing charges including: conspiracy to participate in a racketeer influenced and corrupt organization, conspiracy to commit murder in aid of racketeering, assault with a dangerous weapon in aid of racketeering, conspiracy to commit kidnapping resulting in death, possession and discharge of a firearm in relation to a crime of violence, unlawful possession of a firearm by an alien illegally or unlawfully in the United States, and tampering with a witness, victim, or informant.
DEFENDANT LIST
| NAME | AGE | ADDRESS | CHARGES |
| Jose Santos Alvarado-Velasquez | 22 | Takoma Park, MD | RICO-Conspiracy, Conspiracy to Commit VICAR-Murder, VICAR-ADW, Conspiracy to Commit Kidnapping Resulting in Death, Possession of Firearm – Crime of Violence, Unlawful Possession of a Firearm – Illegal Alien |
| Gerlin Neptali Diaz-Lopez | 21 | Washington, DC | RICO-Conspiracy, Conspiracy to Commit VICAR-Murder, VICAR-ADW, Conspiracy to Commit Kidnapping Resulting in Death, Possession of Firearm – Crime of Violence, Unlawful Possession of a Firearm – Illegal Alien |
| Jose Anselmo Ibarra-Cristales | 22 | Beltsville, MD | RICO-Conspiracy, Conspiracy to Commit VICAR-Murder, VICAR-ADW, Conspiracy to Commit Kidnapping Resulting in Death, Possession of Firearm – Crime of Violence, Unlawful Possession of a Firearm – Illegal Alien |
| Carlos Rolando Martinez-Mora | 23 | Hyattsville, MD | RICO-Conspiracy, Conspiracy to Commit VICAR-Murder x2, VICAR-ADW x2, Conspiracy to Commit Kidnapping Resulting in Death, Possession of Firearm – Crime of Violence x2 |
| Bradley Andree Martinez-Mora | 20 | Hyattsville, MD | RICO-Conspiracy, Conspiracy to Commit VICAR-Murder, VICAR-ADW, Conspiracy to Commit Kidnapping Resulting in Death |
| Jexon Madrid-Flores | 21 | Boston, MA | RICO-Conspiracy, Conspiracy to Commit Kidnapping Resulting in Death |
| Sindy Paola Hernandez-Menjivar | 19 | Woodbury, NJ | Witness Tampering |
| Milton Benjamin Guevara-Villatoro | 21 | El Salvador | RICO-Conspiracy, Conspiracy to Commit VICAR-Murder, VICAR-ADW, Conspiracy to Commit Kidnapping Resulting in Death |
| Cesar De La O Rodriguez | 19 | Washington, DC | RICO-Conspiracy, Conspiracy to Commit VICAR-Murder, VICAR-ADW, Conspiracy to Commit Kidnapping Resulting in Death, Possession of Firearm – Crime of Violence, Unlawful Possession of a Firearm – Illegal Alien |
| Bryan Delfino Vasquez-Izara | 20 | Washington, DC | RICO-Conspiracy, Conspiracy to Commit Kidnapping Resulting in Death |
| Elvis Mauricio Maradiaga | 21 | Bladensburg, MD | RICO-Conspiracy, Conspiracy to Commit Kidnapping Resulting in Death |
| Carlos Giovani Linares Boteo | 26 | Washington, DC | RICO-Conspiracy, Conspiracy to Commit VICAR-Murder, VICAR-ADW, Conspiracy to Commit Kidnapping Resulting in Death |
Between at least 2019 and August 2022, “18th Street,” which operated in the District of Columbia, District of Maryland, Eastern District of Virginia, District of Delaware and elsewhere, knowingly, and intentionally conspired to conduct and participate, directly and indirectly, in the conduct of the enterprise through a pattern of racketeering activity consisting of multiple murders, kidnappings, and other crimes, and financed their enterprise through drug sales, illegal firearm sales, armed robberies, and the collection of dues from members.
According to the indictment, members are required to commit acts of violence to further the interests of the gang. These violent acts are often directed against rival gang members, 18th Street members who violate gang rules or otherwise disrespect the gang, and persons who are suspected of cooperating with law enforcement. Additionally, 18th Street members sell and transport narcotics, weapons, and other contraband to generate money to support the gang and its criminal activities. Some of the proceeds of this criminal activity are wired to members of the gang’s leadership in other countries. 18th Street members control geographical areas and use violence to maintain their control.
Members of 18th Street are organized into “cliques,” or smaller groups operating within specific cities or regions that all operate under the umbrella rules of 18th Street to include the following: the Tiny Locos Surenos (“TLS”), Los Crazy Brothers (“LCB”), and the Revolucionarios. Defendants Alvarado-Velasquez, Ibarra-Cristales, Maradiaga, Boteo, and Rolando and Andree Martinez-Mora were members and associates of LCB. Defendants Diaz-Lopez, Madrid-Flores, Hernandez-Menjivar, Rodriguez, Guevara-Villatoro, and Vasquez-Izara were members and associates of TLS.
The 18th Street gang is highly organized and well structured. It follows initiation rituals, uses specific gang signs, colors and symbols, and requires adherence to and enforcement of specific rules of conduct and payment of dues that are used, in part, to support the gang and its members. 18th Street cliques often work cooperatively to engage in criminal activity and to assist one another in avoiding detection by law enforcement.
The indictment further alleges that 18th Street members engaged in murder, kidnapping, assault, threats of violence, and other crimes in order to: preserve, expand, and protect the power, territory, and reputation of the gang; be promoted within the gang; and punish and discipline members and associates who violate the rules, including improperly associating with rival gang members. For example, on July 14, 2021, members of the TLS and LCB cliques murdered Carlos Ramos Martinez in part due to his association with a rival faction within 18th Street.
In addition, on December 19, 2021, members of the TLS and LCB cliques murdered Danis Alcides Salgado Mata because they believed he was a member or associate of a rival gang.