NEW YORK (WABC) — One of many FBI’s most wished is in U.S. custody.
Francisco Javier Roman-Bardales, a high-ranking chief of MS-13, pleaded not responsible Wednesday to the costs contained in a four-count indictment that accused him of directing MS-13’s illegal actions in the US, El Salvador, Mexico, and elsewhere over the previous twenty years.
He appeared in federal courtroom on Lengthy Island the place a choose ordered him held with out bail.
Roman-Bardales had been a fugitive for practically three years and was added to the “Ten Most Needed Fugitives Checklist” final month.
He was taken into custody Tuesday in San Diego after he was turned over by Mexican authorities in Veracruz Monday.
Roman-Bardales is charged with racketeering conspiracy, conspiracy to supply and conceal materials assist and assets to terrorists, narco-terrorism conspiracy, and alien smuggling conspiracy.
“MS-13 is a terrorist group and this case displays the Division of Justice’s ironclad dedication to placing terrorists behind bars,” mentioned Lawyer Common Pam Bondi. “Members of MS-13 and comparable teams ought to dwell in concern figuring out that we are going to hunt them down, prosecute them, and ship swift American justice for his or her heinous crimes.”
Federal prosecutors mentioned Roman-Bardales and his co-defendants are a part of MS-13’s command and management construction who’ve engaged in a litany of violent actions aimed toward influencing the insurance policies of the federal government of El Salvador and at increasing affect in the US and Mexico.
In keeping with the indictment, Roman-Bardales solid alliances with Mexican cartels and engaged in narcotics trafficking, immigrant smuggling, extortion, kidnappings, and weapons trafficking.
The MS-13’s Mexico Program murdered some migrants sure for the US, together with suspected members of the rival 18th Road gang and MS-13 members trying to flee MS-13 in El Salvador with out permission.
Drug trafficking was an vital a part of MS-13’s moneymaking operation, particularly in Mexico, and the defendants used MS-13’s massive membership in the US to generate monetary assist for MS-13’s terrorist actions in El Salvador.
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