Ecuadorian Gang Leader Held in U.S. on Drug and Gun Charges
Jose Adolfo “Fito” Macias Villamar, a notorious gang leader, is now in U.S. custody following two previous escape attempts from a Central American prison. Prosecutors announced on Monday that he faces several federal charges related to drug and gun trafficking.
The 45-year-old is the head of the violent “Los Choneros” gang, which has had significant influence in Ecuador. His most recent escape reportedly triggered a state of emergency in the country, leading to widespread violence and disturbances.
Over the weekend, Macias Villamar was apprehended once more and extradited to the U.S., where he is currently awaiting a seven-count indictment in New York’s Eastern District.
“Jose ‘Phito’ Macias believed he could bring poison into our nation, smuggling American weapons to criminals while using chaos to further his operations,” a prosecutor said. “He was mistaken.”
According to the U.S. attorney’s office, Los Choneros stands as “Ecuador’s most violent and powerful transnational criminal organization.” The gang has been implicated in the assassination of a high-profile political figure in Ecuador in 2023 and was involved in gang conflicts that resulted in over 115 deaths in 2021.
The charges indicate that Macias Villamar was managing gang activities from within an Ecuadorian prison. His oversight enabled Los Choneros to procure U.S. weapons and transport them secretly to Ecuador between 2020 and 2025.
First imprisoned in 2011, he escaped and was caught again in January 2024 amidst rising national tensions. He was eventually recaptured by Ecuadorian authorities on June 25 and subsequently handed over to U.S. law enforcement.
Joseph Nosera, the U.S. attorney for the Eastern District, stated, “The defendant and his partners perpetrated drug-related violence in the U.S. and beyond, employing extreme measures in their pursuit of power.” He added that this case exemplifies the commitment to ensuring that leaders of such organizations face justice in America.
