Honduras’ most wanted man, Yulan Andony Archaga Carías, 43, is now the target of a massive $5 million reward offered by the U.S. Department of State. Known on the streets as “Alexander Mendoza” and “Porky,” Archaga Carías is the highest-ranking member of MS-13 currently at large, a U.S.-designated Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO). The hunt intensified after a 2021 superseding indictment in the Southern District of New York charged him with racketeering, narcotics trafficking, and firearms offenses.
Attorney General Pamela Bondi minced no words: “This terrorist leader can no longer be allowed to live free as MS-13’s evil devastates communities in America and throughout the western hemisphere.” Bondi’s statement underscores the gravity of the situation, framing Archaga Carías not simply as a fugitive, but as a direct threat to American citizens. The reward isn’t just about bringing a criminal to justice; it’s about dismantling a transnational organization responsible for untold suffering.
The FBI, DEA, and ICE Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) have all placed Archaga Carías on their respective “Most Wanted” lists, demonstrating a unified front in the pursuit. FBI Director Kash Patel declared, “Dismantling and ultimately eliminating MS-13 continues to be one of the FBI’s highest priorities, and we’re not stopping until that mission is complete.” The agency is urging anyone with information to come forward, providing contact points via email (archaga-carias_tips@fbi.gov) and WhatsApp (+1-832-267-1688). Those outside the U.S. are directed to contact the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate.
DEA Acting Administrator Derek Maltz ratcheted up the rhetoric, stating, “Archaga Carías isn’t just a fugitive — he’s a foreign terrorist waging war on innocent Americans through murder, trafficking, and terror.” Maltz issued a stark warning: anyone shielding the MS-13 leader will face consequences. The designation of MS-13 as a Foreign Terrorist Organization has fundamentally altered the approach to combating the gang, transforming it from a criminal investigation into a counter-terrorism operation.
While Archaga Carías remains at large, authorities have secured some victories. Co-defendant David Campbell, aka “Viejo Dan” and “Don David,” a Honduran national, is currently in U.S. custody facing the same charges outlined in the indictment. Another MS-13 leader, Juan Carlos Portillo Santos also known as “Juancy,” is imprisoned in Honduras serving a lengthy sentence. However, Victor Eduardo Morales Zelaya also known as “Cuervo,” and Jorge Alberto Velasquez Paz also known as “Chacarron,” both Honduran nationals, remain fugitives alongside Archaga Carías.
The case is being overseen by U.S. District Court Judge Gregory H. Woods in the Southern District of New York. The Department of State’s Transnational Organized Crime Rewards Program (TOCRP) is funding the $5 million reward, but tips must be submitted directly to U.S. government agencies to qualify. The message is clear: the U.S. is determined to cripple MS-13, and Archaga Carías is the primary target. The clock is ticking, and the reward stands as a powerful incentive for anyone with information to step forward.
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Key Facts
- Agency: ATF
- Category: Organized Crime|Weapons|Violent Crime
- Source: Official Press Release
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