Eight MS-13 gang members were indicted by a Texas grand jury Friday for charges connected to machete attacks against 10 people, according to the Justice Department.
Seven one of the men aged 19 to 26 and one additional member who was unnamed were indicted on 18 counts, including racketeering, attempted murder, attempted assault, and other serious offenses, following a joint-agency investigation by the FBI, U.S. Immigration and Custom Enforcement, the Texas Police Department, and the Dallas Police Department.
“The Department of Justice will not allow MS-13 to terrorize any community, school or street corner,” Attorney General Jeff Sessions said in a statement. “Today’s indictment of eight MS-13 members — including five who are charged as illegal aliens in possession of firearms — makes clear that the Trump administration and this Department will continue to go on offense against MS-13 with every lawful tool at our disposal.”
The suspects were identified by their real names as well as their aliases, which included Sparky, Mama, Street Danger, Pinky, Chocolate, and Splinter.
Court documents cited in the press release say that on or around July 2016, three of the suspects took part in a racketeering conspiracy that included attempted murder, conspiracy to commit murder and robbery.
“Evil gangs like MS-13 are perpetrators of senseless violence in our communities,” Gov. Greg Abbott, R-Texas, said in a statement. “The indictment of these individuals shows a continued commitment to going after these dangerous individuals and keeping our communities safe. The State of Texas will continue to offer any assistance and resources necessary to crack down on these criminals.”
President Trump has called several times for the abolishing of MS-13, a national and transnational gang that DOJ describes as comprised of illegal immigrants from El Salvador. As a candidate, he promised to deport all criminal illegal immigrants upon his first day in office.
