Bayron Wuifredo Santos-Recarte, Kidnapping, Tennessee 2023

NASHVILLE, TN – Bayron Wuifredo Santos-Recarte, 27, an MS-13 member and Honduran national illegally present in the United States, was sentenced to 147 months – over twelve years – in federal prison today for a particularly vicious kidnapping, retaliating against a federal witness, and a firearms offense. The sentencing concludes a case that exposed the gang’s willingness to use extreme violence to silence those who cooperate with law enforcement.

According to court documents, Santos-Recarte and other MS-13 associates abducted a former federal witness on November 5, 2023, from the parking lot of a Nashville laundromat. The victim had previously testified in a federal racketeering trial against other MS-13 members, detailing how the gang attempted to murder him twice over a drug dispute. This prior testimony made him a target, and the kidnapping was a clear attempt to obstruct justice and exact revenge.

The victim endured hours of torture within a truck, subjected to assaults with a firearm, hammer, and machete. Santos-Recarte admitted to driving the vehicle used in the kidnapping and being present during the brutal attack, acknowledging he knew the victim had testified against MS-13. The assailants repeatedly questioned the witness about his testimony and threatened his life, leaving him with fractured bones, internal bleeding, and a kidney injury before he managed to escape and call for help.

“The defendant, an MS-13 member, kidnapped a former federal witness and tortured him with a machete, hammer, and gun,” stated Matthew R. Galeotti, Head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “This violence and obstruction of the American legal system is core MS-13 conduct and exemplifies why MS-13 has been designated a foreign terrorist organization.” Galeotti added that the Department of Justice remains focused on dismantling the organization, promising further action.

Acting U.S. Attorney Robert E. McGuire for the Middle District of Tennessee emphasized the commitment to protecting witnesses. “We will do whatever it takes to protect witnesses from harm,” McGuire said. “If a witness is retaliated against, our office will bring the full might of federal law enforcement to bear on holding those responsible accountable for their crimes.”

Jason Stankiewicz, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the ATF’s Nashville Field Division, highlighted the severity of witness intimidation. “On numerous occasions, individuals are silenced from ‘speaking out’ due to threats, intimidation, or the risks of serious harm,” Stankiewicz explained. “ATF remains committed to working alongside our state, local, and federal law enforcement partners to reduce violent crime and diminish the presence and influence of these dangerous and deadly criminal organizations in the communities that we serve.” Santos-Recarte was found in possession of a firearm when arrested, adding another layer to his criminal charges.

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