ATLANTA — More than two dozen members of a violent transnational street gang are charged with racketeering and other crimes in metro Atlanta in a federal indictment unsealed Thursday.
The 26 gang members are charged with various crimes, including seven murders, 14 attempted murders, kidnapping and robbery, the indictment says.
They are associated with the Mara Salvatrucha, or MS-13, gang, which originated in Central America and now operates throughout the U.S., Acting U.S. Attorney Sally Yates said at a news conference. The gang was first detected in suburban Gwinnett and DeKalb counties in 1998 but became significantly more violent starting in 2005, she said.
The gang members used violence and threats to frighten their victims and community members to keep them from helping law enforcement agents identify, catch and prosecute them, the indictment says.
“This case is really a culmination of a battle that is being fought in Gwinnett and DeKalb counties and has been for the last 10 years,” said Gwinnett County District Attorney Danny Porter. “In my opinion, this is not the end. This is a serious blow to MS-13 but the battle will continue.”
Metro Atlanta has become a distribution hub for Mexican drug cartels, but Yates said MS-13 is based in other Central American countries and is not connected to the Mexican cartels. MS-13 tends to be motivated more by status and gaining territory than by profit, she said.
Of the 26 people listed in the indictment, 22 are in custody. Most are illegal immigrants who will face criminal prosecution in this country before they are deported, said Kenneth Smith of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, which spearheaded the two-year investigation with help from various federal, state and local law enforcement agencies.
State News
March 5, 2010
26 members of street gang in Atlanta area indicted
- State News
-
-
Amnesty program for jury dodgers comes to an end
Authorities in a metro Atlanta county say an amnesty program for people who ducked jury duty in the past is now coming to an end.
Continued ... - Mail-order firm to close Ga. distribution center
- State Supreme Court gets new chief for brief spell
- State Supreme Court reverses murder conviction
- President Obama back in Atlanta for fundraiser
- Civil rights icon Lewis honored by five colleges
- Facebook tip leads to arrests in mill fire
- May 29, 2012
- Holiday weekend wrecks kill 15 people across Ga.
- Police: Boxer was driving too fast for conditions
- May 28, 2012
- Memorial Day ceremonies held across Georgia
- May 27, 2012
- Researchers to dig into Georgia hurricane history
- Clarke County officials check on sex offenders
- Program recognizes veterans in hospice care
- Beryl now a tropical storm, nearing US coast
- May 26, 2012
- Job, economy fears mix with hope for Class of ’12
-
Amnesty program for jury dodgers comes to an end
Syrian Boy Speaks Out, Survives Family Massacre
Judge Tells John Edwards Jury: Keep Deliberating
House Rejects Sex-selection Abortion Ban
Bush, Obama on Stage Together Share Laughs
SpaceX Dragon Returns to Earth
Warming Gas Levels Hit 'Troubling Milestone'
Youngest-ever Speller Disappointed by Mistake
2 American Tourists Kidnapped in Egypt
Chen Guangcheng: 'Historic Transition' in China
New York City Seeks Big Drink Ban
Los Angeles Bans Plastic Grocery Bags
Raw Video: SpaceX Dragon Leaves Space Station
Police: Gunman Kills 5, Self in Seattle
Experts: Americans Must Prepare for Storm Season
Forest Fire Becomes New Mexico's Largest Ever
Montreal Police: Mailed Body Parts From Same Man
Facebook Expands Campus As Stock Shrinks
