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Baltimore Bled: MS-13 Clique Faces RICO Charges in Triple Homicide
Baltimore, Maryland – The streets of southeast Baltimore have seen a reckoning. Federal prosecutors unsealed a sweeping indictment today, charging four alleged members of the Centrales Locos Salvatruchas (CLS) clique of the notorious MS-13 gang with racketeering conspiracy, directly linking them to three brutal murders committed over the past year. This indictment comes on the heels of another MS-13 RICO case unveiled earlier this week in Prince George’s County, signaling a major push to dismantle the gang’s operations in Maryland.
U.S. Attorney Kelly O. Hayes, alongside Baltimore City State’s Attorney Ivan J. Bates and federal and local law enforcement officials, announced the charges against Eliseo Alexander Lopez Alvarez, 23, of El Salvador, also known as “10,” “Zorro,” and “Terrible;” Olvin Josue Posas Alvarenga, 23, of Honduras, aka “Elevado;” Kevin Cuestas, 20, of Honduras, known as “Mickey” and “Gemelo;” and Josue Anibal Guerra Ramos, 20, of Honduras, nicknamed “Flaco.” The indictment alleges a pattern of racketeering activity beginning in at least 2023, encompassing not only murder but also drug distribution and extortion.
The details of the crimes are chilling. In late November 2023, Alvarez, Posas Alvarenga, and other CLS members allegedly used a fabricated online persona – a fake Instagram account posing as a female – to lure a victim into a wooded area in southeast Baltimore. Once there, the victim was murdered. Just months later, in March 2024, Cuestas and another CLS member are accused of gunning down a victim on a southeast Baltimore street before making a hasty escape. The violence continued in April 2024 when Guerra Ramos and another member allegedly shot two people on the same streets, leaving one dead.
Beyond the bloodshed, the indictment paints a picture of a calculated criminal enterprise. The four defendants, along with other CLS members, allegedly conspired to distribute marijuana to fund their activities. They also allegedly used threats of violence and intimidation to extort money from individuals, preying on fear to line their pockets. This isn’t just about isolated acts of violence; it’s a systematic attempt to control through fear and profit from misery.
“These charges are allegations, not a finding of guilt,” U.S. Attorney Hayes stressed, emphasizing the presumption of innocence. However, the evidence presented suggests a ruthless and organized operation. The FBI, Baltimore Police Department, and Maryland Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services have been instrumental in the investigation, which is part of the larger “Operation Take Back America” – a nationwide initiative aimed at dismantling transnational criminal organizations and combating violent crime. The operation also falls under the FBI’s “Summer Heat” initiative, focused on suppressing violent crime during the warmer months.
Law enforcement is urging anyone with information about MS-13 activity to come forward. The FBI can be reached at 1-866-STP-MS13 (1-866-787-6713), and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) has a tipline at 1-866-DHS-2-ICE. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys James G. O’Donohue III and Kenneth S. Clark, with assistance from the Baltimore City State’s Attorney’s Office. The investigation is ongoing, and further arrests are anticipated as authorities attempt to sever the roots of MS-13’s influence in Baltimore.
Key Facts
- State: Maryland
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Organized Crime|Violent Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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