SAN FRANCISCO – The long arm of the law finally caught up with Jaime Balam, a/k/a “Tweety,” an alleged MS-13 member accused of a brutal 2009 murder in Daly City. Balam, 26, appeared in U.S. District Court today after being extradited from Mexico, ending years of evasion and a complex international investigation.
Federal authorities indicted Balam on August 21, 2012, alleging his involvement in a racketeering conspiracy connected to La Mara Salvatrucha, or MS-13. The indictment paints a picture of a ruthless gang operating both within the U.S. and across Central America, engaging in a pattern of violence including murder, attempted murder, and other criminal acts. Balam is accused of not only participating in this conspiracy but specifically of carrying out the February 19, 2009, murder, along with three attempted murders, all stemming from the same incident.
Court records reveal the depth of the gang’s internal structure and its deadly rivalry with Norteño gangs in the San Francisco Bay Area. MS-13, identified as a Sureño or “Southern” gang with roots in Southern California and allegiance to the Mexican Mafia, allegedly operates under a chilling rule: members are expected to “hunt” – meaning attack and kill – Norteños and other rivals whenever the opportunity arises. The indictment asserts Balam conspired with others to target and eliminate members of opposing gangs.
The path to today’s court appearance was far from simple. Balam was initially arrested in Mexico on October 21, 2013. However, securing his extradition took another two years, finally being authorized on February 10, 2015. This delay underscores the challenges of international law enforcement, requiring close collaboration between U.S. agencies and Mexican authorities. The government’s investigation, which began around 2005, has been relentless in its pursuit of MS-13 members operating in the Bay Area.
“This successful extradition culminates years of outstanding investigative work by our federal law enforcement partners with Homeland Security Investigations, and illustrates the lengths to which we will go to pursue justice for victims,” stated United States Attorney Melinda Haag. Acting Special Agent in Charge Tatum King of ICE’s Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) echoed this sentiment, emphasizing that borders won’t shield criminals from prosecution. “We also owe a tremendous debt to authorities in Mexico, whose cooperation was vital to assuring this defendant’s return,” King added.
Balam now faces a slew of serious federal charges, each carrying potentially life-altering consequences. He is charged with racketeering conspiracy (18 U.S.C. § 1962(d)), punishable by life in prison and a $250,000 fine; conspiracy to commit murder in aid of racketeering activity (18 U.S.C. ‘ 1959(a)(5)), carrying a ten-year sentence and $250,000 fine; conspiracy to commit assault with a dangerous weapon in aid of racketeering activity (18 U.S.C. § 1959(a)(6)), with a three-year sentence and $250,000 fine; and murder in aid of racketeering activity (18 U.S.C. ‘ 1959(a)(1)), which carries a life sentence and a $250,000 fine. Additional charges related to attempted murder will also be pursued.
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Key Facts
- State: California
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Organized Crime|Violent Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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