Juan Garcia-Gomez, aka Scooby, 26, of El Salvador conspired to take part in the affairs of Mara Salvatrucha, a violent criminal gang also known as MS-13, founded in Los Angeles and active in numerous states across the United States, as well as in El Salvador, Central America, and Mexico, according to court documents and evidence presented at the trial of three co-defendants.
A fundamental set of guidelines governs MS-13, including a directive to execute members of rival gangs and a strong prohibition against assisting government authorities.
The MS-13 organisation is divided into a number of regionally focused “cliques,” or sub-units, each of which is normally run by a single leader known as the “First Word.” The Pinos Locos Salvatrucha clique, of which Garcia-Gomez was a member or associate, and the Hudson Locos Salvatrucha clique were two cliques that were active in and around Hudson County, New Jersey.
Jose Urias-Hernandez, then 19 years old, was shot and killed execution-style by Garcia-Gomez in July 2015 as he entered his home, according to court documents, Garcia-plea Gomez’s deal, and evidence produced at the trial of three co-defendants.
Garcia-Gomez took part in the murder because the MS-13 leadership had told him to do so in order to join the gang.
According to Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Polite, Jr. of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, “Garcia-Gomez and his fellow gang members will no longer be able to victimise this community because to the diligent efforts of the Department of Justice and our law enforcement partners.”
The Criminal Division and our law enforcement partners “will not relent in our pursuit of justice for the victims of this deadly gang” as they go after MS-13 gang members who kill people and prey on communities via violence and intimidation.
According to U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger for the District of New Jersey, “Garcia-Gomez committed a horrific and violent crime to join a criminal group notorious for its brutality and violence.”
He was barely out of his teens when he killed another young man in accordance with MS-13’s instructions, devastating the lives of his victim’s family and friends as well as any opportunity he had for a respectable life for himself.
This punishment will prevent this vicious felon from roaming the streets.
According to Assistant Director Luis Quesada of the FBI’s Criminal Investigative Division, “Garcia-Gomez and his fellow gang members devastated their community with violence.”
“The FBI will keep looking for those responsible for the heinous acts of violence in our communities in collaboration with our law enforcement allies.
This action demonstrates the FBI’s dedication to taking down these organised crime rings and maintaining the safety of the communities we serve.
Acting Deputy Director Patrick J. Lechleitner of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement said, “Today’s punishment places not just a vicious murderer, but also a confirmed gang member, drugs trafficker, and extortionist: a severe threat to public safety. “We will investigate international criminals like this defendant, whose lack of humanity is severe, using every weapon at our disposal.
While concentrating on offering victims the support they require, our officers and special agents will continue to collaborate with our law enforcement partners to bring perpetrators to justice.
In addition to Garcia-Gomez, nine defendants, including El Salvadorans Jose Gimenez-Lobos, alias Infernal, aka Terrible, 31, and Jose Rivera-Robles, or Layo, 36, were charged in this investigation against MS-13 in New Jersey.
High-ranking MS-13 member Christian Linares-Rodriguez, also known as Donkey, a defendant in this case, is detained in El Salvador and is awaiting extradition to the United States.
He is 42 years old. Three further defendants—Juan Pablo Escalante-Melgar, alias Humilde, Elmer Cruz-Diaz, alias Locote, and Oscar Sanchez-Aguilar, alias Snappy—were found guilty at their trial in November 2021 and are now awaiting punishment.
Esclante-Melgar, Cruz-Diaz, and Sanchez-Aguilar will all be sentenced to a required minimum of life in prison.
After taking into account the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other legal considerations, a federal district court judge will decide on any sentence.
The matter was looked into by the FBI, Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Newark Field Office’s Enforcement and Removal Operations, Homeland Security Investigations, the Hudson County Prosecutors Office, and the West New York Police Department.