Manuel Alexander ‘Snappy’ ’23’ Lara Morales, MS-13 Clique Leader, Maryland 2025

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MS-13 Clique Leader Charged in Connection with 4 Murders and 2 Attempted Murders in Baltimore

Baltimore, Maryland – U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Maryland unsealed a superseding indictment today, charging Manuel Alexander ‘Snappy’ ’23’ Lara Morales, 25, of El Salvador, and Eliseo Alexander ’10’ ‘Zorro’ ‘Terrible’ Lopez Alvarez, 23, of El Salvador, in connection with a Racketeering Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act Conspiracy.

According to the superseding indictment, beginning in at least 2023, the defendants engaged in a racketeering conspiracy as members of the MS-13 CLS clique. They committed multiple murders, engaged in drug distribution, and extorted victims.

The new superseding indictment details how Manuel Alexander ‘Snappy’ ’23’ Lara Morales, acted as the leader of MS-13’s CLS clique in Baltimore since approximately 2023. As alleged in the superseding indictment, Lara Morales and Eliseo Alexander ’10’ ‘Zorro’ ‘Terrible’ Lopez Alvarez, authorized the September 4, 2023, murder of another CLS member or associate in connection with a dispute over drug sales with the gang.

On September 4, 2023, Lopez Alvarez, Kevin ‘Mickey’ ‘Gemelo’ Cuestas, 21, of Honduras, Olvin Josue ‘Elevado’ Posas Alvarenga, 23, of Honduras, and other CLS members found the victim in front of a library, brought him to a wooded area in southeast Baltimore, and took turns shooting him until he died. His body was found five days later. After this murder, Lara Morales ‘activated’ Cuestas and Posas Alvarenga into CLS.

Additionally, the superseding indictment detailed three other murders CLS perpetrated. In November 2023, Lopez Alvarez, Posas Alvarenga, and other CLS members, murdered a victim after using a fake Instagram account, purporting to be a female, to lure the victim to a wooded area in southeast Baltimore where they shot and killed him. Lara Morales authorized the murder ahead of time.

Charges in the superseding indictment are allegations, not a finding of guilt. Individuals charged by indictment are presumed innocent until proven guilty at a later criminal proceeding. U.S. Attorney Hayes commended the FBI, BPD, and DPSCS for their work in the investigation. Ms. Hayes also thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys James G. O’Donohue III and Kenneth S. Clark, who are prosecuting the case, and the Office of the State’s Attorney for Baltimore City for its assistance throughout the investigation.

This prosecution is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal activity and preventing foreign adversaries from exploiting vulnerabilities in the United States.