Four MS-13 Members Indicted in Md. Murder Conspiracy

Four alleged members of MS-13 are behind bars, facing federal charges in a violent racketeering conspiracy that culminated in murder. Daniel Flores-Ventura, a/k/a “Necio,” 24, of Aspen Hill, Maryland; Vilas Sail Argueta-Bermudez, a/k/a “Happy,” a/k/a “Little Happy,” a/k/a “Enchilada,” 31, of Aspen Hill, Maryland; Willians Ernesto Lovos-Ayala, a/k/a “Tigre,” 25, of Woodbridge, Virginia; and Michael Campos-Lemus, a/k/a “Humilde,” 24, of Aspen Hill, Maryland, were indicted on charges of conspiracy to commit murder in aid of racketeering and murder in aid of racketeering.

The indictment, announced by Acting United States Attorney Stephen M. Schenning, alleges the defendants planned and carried out a killing on July 16, 2015, in Montgomery County, Maryland. The victim, whose identity has not been released, was reported missing two days later and wasn’t found until September 29, 2015—his body discovered in Woodbridge, Virginia. The cross-state recovery underscores the gang’s reach and disregard for jurisdictional lines.

According to federal prosecutors, the men were active members of the Uniones and Molinos Clique of MS-13, a transnational gang rooted in El Salvador with deep footholds in Maryland. From at least 2015 through September 2017, the indictment alleges the defendants took part in a criminal enterprise that included murder, drug trafficking, and extortion—hallmarks of the gang’s operations across Prince George’s and Montgomery Counties.

MS-13, known for extreme violence and tight internal discipline, has long been a target of federal law enforcement. The two-count indictment reflects the DOJ’s strategy of using RICO statutes to dismantle gang networks by targeting their leadership and operational structure. Authorities say the conspiracy wasn’t isolated—it was part of a broader campaign of terror designed to maintain control and silence opposition.

All four defendants are currently in custody awaiting trial. The indictment does not equate to guilt, and each is presumed innocent until proven otherwise in court. Still, the charges paint a chilling picture of organized brutality, with prosecutors prepared to present forensic, witness, and gang intelligence to support their case.

The investigation was jointly led by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement – Homeland Security Investigations, the FBI Baltimore Field Office, Prince William County Police, and the Frederick Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kenneth Clark and Clinton Fuchs, along with Trial Attorney Catherine K. Dick of the Organized Crime and Gang Section, are prosecuting the case.

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