[RP TownTalk] [Fwd: [PEN] NEWS RELEASE - MS-13 GANG LEADER SENTENCED TO LIFE IN PRISON AFTER BEING CONVICTED OF RACKETEERING OFFENSES ENCOMPASSING MURDER]

[Don Lynch]

-------- Original Message --------
Subject: 	[PEN] NEWS RELEASE - MS-13 GANG LEADER SENTENCED TO LIFE IN 
PRISON AFTER BEING CONVICTED OF RACKETEERING OFFENSES ENCOMPASSING MURDER
Date: 	Thu, 25 Mar 2010 13:58:15 -0400
From: 	Cathy Plevy <CathyP at takomagov.org>
Reply-To: 	pen at penhood.net
To: 	Cathy Plevy <CathyP at takomagov.org>



NEWS RELEASE
City of Takoma Park Police Department
● 7500 Maple Avenue ● Takoma Park, Md 20912
 
Public Information Officer (PIO)
Catherine Plevy, 301/891.7142 or 240/338.2901
 
March 25, 2010 (1:58 p.m.)
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
 
*THIS RELEASE IS INFORMATION TAKEN FROM THE UNITED STATES ATTORNEY'S 
OFFICE.  FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT AUSA VICKIE E. LEDUC or MARCIA 
MURPHY at 410-209-4885.*

*_MS-13 GANG LEADER SENTENCED TO LIFE IN PRISON AFTER BEING CONVICTED OF 
RACKETEERING OFFENSES ENCOMPASSING MURDER_*

/Ordered the Murder of One Girl and the Shooting of Another;/

/Sixth Successful MS-13 RICO Trial/

*/Greenbelt/*, Maryland - U.S. District Judge Deborah K. Chasanow 
sentenced Roberto Antonio Argueta, a/k/a “Alex Antonio Cruz,” a/k/a 
“Buda,” age 29, of Hyattsville, Maryland, today to life in prison, plus 
an additional 35 years, for ordering the murder of Nancy Diaz and the 
attempted murder of another juvenile girl.  A twelve-person federal jury 
voted today to impose a sentence of life in prison without parole on 
Argueta. On March 4, 2010, the same jury found Argueta guilty of 
conspiracy to commit murder in aid of a racketeering enterprise known as 
MS-13, conspiracy to participate in racketeering, murder in aid of 
racketeering, murder resulting from the use of a gun in a violent crime, 
two counts of assault with a dangerous weapon in aid of racketeering and 
two counts of using a gun during a violent crime. 

The conviction and sentence were announced by United States Attorney for 
the District of Maryland Rod J. Rosenstein; Assistant Attorney General 
Lanny A. Breuer of the Criminal Division; Special Agent in Charge 
Theresa R. Stoop of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and 
Explosives - Baltimore Field Division; Chief Roberto L. Hylton of the 
Prince George’s County Police Department; Special Agent in Charge 
Richard A. McFeely of the Federal Bureau of Investigation; Special Agent 
in Charge William Winter of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement; 
Chief J. Thomas Manger of the Montgomery County Police Department; and 
Chief Darien L. Manley of the Maryland National Capital Park Police.

According to testimony presented at the eight week trial, Argueta was a 
leader of the *Langley Park* Salvatruchos (LPS) clique of La Mara 
Salvatrucha, also known as MS-13, a gang composed primarily of 
immigrants or descendants of immigrants from El Salvador, with members 
operating throughout Prince George’s County and Montgomery County, 
Maryland and elsewhere inside and outside of the United States.

Witnesses testified at trial that Argueta and other MS-13 gang members 
stabbed a rival gang member with broken bottles and knives, *outside 
nightclub in Langley Park*, Maryland on September 17, 2004.  In October 
2004, Argueta led a gang meeting in Prince George’s County, Maryland in 
which he and other gang members discussed plans to kill Nancy Diaz. The 
jury found, based on the evidence presented at trial and during the 
penalty phase, that Argueta Ordered the murder of Nancy Diaz.  On 
October 25, 2004, two other MS-13 members drove Ms. Diaz and another 
juvenile female to the George Washington Cemetery in Adelphi, Maryland.  
According to testimony, another MS-13 member shot and killed Nancy Diaz, 
and shot the other girl in the face and stabbed her twice in the chest 
to attempt to make sure she was dead.  The victim survived, and she 
later identified her assailants.

Israel Ernesto Palacios, also known as Homie, age 32, of Silver Spring, 
Maryland, was sentenced to life in prison for his role in the October 
25, 2004 murder and attempted murder.  James Guillen, also known as 
Toro, age 23, of Hyattsville, Maryland, who drove the MS-13 members and 
victims to the cemetery, pleaded guilty to racketeering conspiracy after 
a jury was selected for his federal trial, and was sentenced to 262 
months in prison.  One of the murderers of Nancy Diaz, Jeffrey 
Villatoro, was prosecuted in the Circuit Court of Prince George’s County 
and received a life sentence.  Another of the murderers, Jesus Canales, 
age 25, of Silver Spring, Maryland, pled guilty in federal court to RICO 
conspiracy, including the murder of Nancy Diaz. He has not yet been 
sentenced.

To date, this office has charged 51 MS-13 members with various federal 
offenses; 25 members have been convicted at trial or pled guilty to RICO 
charges and 19 have pleaded guilty to other charges, primarily 
immigration or gun violations. Four defendants have been sentenced to 
life in prison.  One remaining defendant faces a capital trial beginning 
in June, 2010.

United States Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein and Assistant Attorney General 
Lanny A. Breuer praised the RAGE Task Force, and thanked Prince George’s 
County State’s Attorney Glenn F. Ivey and Montgomery County State’s 
Attorney John McCarthy for the assistance that they and their offices 
provided.

Mr. Rosenstein and Mr. Breuer commended Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert 
K. Hur, Assistant U.S. Attorney James M. Trusty, currently on detail as 
Deputy Chief of the Criminal Division’s Gang Unit, and Trial Attorney 
Laura J. Gwinn of the Criminal Division’s Gang Unit, who prosecuted the 
case.

 

Catherine E. Plevy
Executive Assistant
Public Information Officer (PIO)
Office of the Chief of Police
7500 Maple Avenue
Takoma Park, Maryland 20912
cathyp at takomagov.org <mailto:cathyp at takomagov.org>
(301) 891-7142

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