US authorities have arrested a suspect in a local MS-13 gang who has been a fugitive for nearly four years since being charged with a conspiracy related to the murders of 11 people, the Justice Department said Wednesday.
Joel Vargas Escobar was arrested late Tuesday in Westbury, New York, and moved to Nevada, where he was initially charged with a 2021 federal charge.
According to court documents, prosecutors are trying to put him on trial with three co-defendants.
“The terrorist has been accused of illegally entering our country and coordinating the murders of 11 people. Under President Trump's leadership, the terrorist organization has been completely dismantled and its members will not rest until they are behind the bar,” Attorney General Pam Bondy said in a statement.
Under the Trump administration, the Justice Department prioritizes cases involving drug cartels and criminal gangs related to illegal immigration.
Vargas-Escobar, identified as the leader of “Parkview” Creek for MS-13, which operated in Nevada and California, faces assault, murder and gun charges.
He has not yet entered the plea.
The indictment directly links Vargas-Escobar to the two murders in 2017.
