MS-13 Members, Violent Racketeering, Maryland 2023

Baltimore, Maryland – Two MS-13 gang members, Jose Alberto Sibrian Garcia, a/k/a Chango, 28, and Carlos Hernandez Diaz, a/k/a Positivo, 29, both of Silver Spring, Maryland, were sentenced to 27 years each in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, on a federal racketeering charge related to their participation in a violent racketeering conspiracy, specifically MS-13, including murders.

The sentences were announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Robert K. Hur and other law enforcement officials.

“MS-13 members are committing horrifying acts of violence in Maryland. We must not allow these criminals to ravage our communities, spreading fear in their wake,” said U.S. Attorney Robert K. Hur.

“Today’s sentence takes out a small part of the plague that has spread throughout our communities. And while it means these defendants will be off the streets for decades, our work is not done,” said Jennifer Boone, Special Agent in Charge of the Baltimore Field Office of the FBI.

MS-13 is a national and international gang composed primarily of immigrants or descendants from El Salvador and other Central American countries. Branches or “cliques” of MS-13 operate throughout Frederick County, Anne Arundel County, Prince George’s County, and Montgomery County, Maryland.

At all times of this conspiracy, members of MS-13 were expected to protect the name, reputation, and status of the gang from rival gang members and other persons. To protect the gang and to enhance its reputation, MS-13 members were expected to use any means necessary to force respect from those who showed disrespect, including acts of intimidation and violence.

Sibrian Garcia and Hernandez Diaz were members and associates of the Fulton Locotes Salvatrucha clique of MS-13 from 2016 and 2017, respectively. The gang had mottos consistent with its rules, beliefs, expectations, and reputation, including “mata, viola, controla,” which translates as, “kill, rape, control,” and “ver, oir y callar,” which means, “see nothing, hear nothing, and say nothing.”

The sentences were for a federal racketeering charge related to their participation in a violent racketeering conspiracy, specifically MS-13, including murders. The sentences were announced by Robert K. Hur, United States Attorney for the District of Maryland, and other law enforcement officials. The defendants will serve 27 years in federal prison followed by five years of supervised release.

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/pr/two-ms-13-members-each-sentenced-27-years-federal-prison-participating-violent