REDWOOD CITY, Calif. (AP) — Authorities in Northern California have announced the arrest of a man they say is wanted in El Salvador for his involvement with a gang that hijacked arms shipments intended for that country’s military and police and used them to rob banks.
The U.S. Marshals Service said Friday Gerardo Francisco Mejia Coto was taken into custody earlier in the week in Redwood City. He was being held by immigration authorities and facing deportation.
Deputy U.S. Marshal Joseph Palmer says Coto is wanted in El Salvador on suspicion of murder and other crimes in connection with bank robberies and armored car hijackings during which two people were killed and others injured. He is believed to be a founding member of the Tacoma Cabrera gang.
Authorities in El Salvador issued an arrest warrant for him in 2003.
It was not immediately clear whether he had an attorney.
