Jeffrey Rodriguez, MS-13 Gang Member, Maryland 2023

Greenbelt, Maryland – Jeffrey Rodriguez, a 22-year-old citizen of El Salvador residing in Hyattsville, Maryland, was sentenced to 90 months in federal prison for his participation in the racketeering enterprise known as La Mara Salvatrucha, or MS-13.

U.S. District Judge Paula Xinis handed down the sentence, which will be followed by 3 years of supervised release. Rodriguez is expected to be deported following completion of his federal prison sentence.

The sentencing was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Robert K. Hur and Assistant Attorney General Brian A. Benczkowski for the Justice Department’s Criminal Division.

According to the plea agreement, MS-13 is a gang composed primarily of immigrants or descendants of immigrants from El Salvador, with members operating in the State of Maryland, including Montgomery County, Prince George’s County, and Frederick County, and throughout the United States.

As detailed in his plea agreement, Rodriguez admitted that from about August 2016, he was a member and associate of the Sailors clique of MS-13. Rodriguez admitted that on August 9, 2016, he and other MS-13 members and associates planned and conspired to rob two individuals of a pound of marijuana, the sale of which would be used to benefit the Sailors clique.

Specifically, Rodriguez admitted that on August 9, 2016, Rodriguez and an MS-13 co-conspirator entered a vehicle occupied by the two victims under the guise that they were going to purchase a pound of marijuana from the victims. Rodriguez and his co-conspirator were armed with a firearm and a knife. Upon attempting to rob the victims, and displaying the firearm, Rodriguez and his co-conspirator became engaged in a violent struggle with the victims, who sustained serious injuries, including gunshot and stab wounds.

United States Attorney Robert K. Hur and Assistant Attorney General Brian Benczkowski praised HSI Baltimore, FBI Washington Field Office, DEA Washington Field Office, the Prince George’s County Police Department, the Montgomery County Police Department, the City of Hyattsville Police Department, the Prince George’s State’s Attorney’s Office, and the Montgomery County State’s Attorney’s Office for their work in the investigation.