A gang of undocumented immigrants has been troubling Queens’ so-called “lovers’ market,” engaging in activities like forced prostitution, assaults on competitors, drug dealing, and selling fake identification, effectively undermining illegal networks rooted in El Salvador.
On Monday, a federal complaint unveiled the identities of eight members of the notorious “18th Avenue Gang.” This complaint summarizes a range of crimes tied to the dubious immigrant prostitution rings operating along Roosevelt Avenue, which have been a persistent issue in New York City. The court documents detail the gang’s violent reliance on intimidation along this busy commercial strip in Jackson Heights, Queens.
“These violent individuals displayed a ruthless disregard for those around them,” a prosecutor remarked.
It’s noted that at least seven of the accused are present in the United States unlawfully.
The gang, composed of members with street names like “Pinocchio” and “Loco,” has been aggressively exerting control over the area referred to as “54 Tiny Locos,” per the indictment. Their criminal activities include several mob assaults, indicating their dominance over a sordid sex market.
Federal prosecutors claim the 18th Avenue gang is also tied to the infamous MS-13 gang and has funded their operations through drug trafficking, prostitution rings, and the sale of phony immigration documents, including passports and driver’s licenses.
To maintain their grip on the market, the gang has resorted to brutal tactics against rivals. An indictment revealed that in June 2024, members attacked a rival group in a Queens parking lot using a bicycle lock and a metal chair, while earlier in January 2022, two men were assaulted outside a local bar.
In December 2021, another victim was struck in the head with a tequila bottle during a gang-related incident.
The indictment outlines multiple charges against members of the “54 Tiny Locos” for assault and weapon trafficking. Seven individuals face assault charges, one of whom has been charged with possessing an illegal .9mm semi-automatic handgun.
Included in the indictment are names like Felix Bonira “Chabello” Ramos, 36; Uriel “Tanque” Lopez, 30; Refugio “Cuco” Martinez, 32; Margarito “Pinocchio” Ortega, 38; Orlando “Ninote” Ramirez, 24; German “Loco” Rodriguez, 34; David Vasquez “Teba” Corona, 29; and Marco Vidal “Matute” Mendez, 36.
Authorities have noted that this gang is one of several illegal immigrant criminal enterprises that have established themselves in the city since a surge in immigration began in 2022.
The 18th Avenue gang stands as a rival to the well-known MS-13, which has wrought fear across various regions of the United States, including parts of Long Island.
The gang’s presence is noted across the U.S., and last month, a gang leader, Javier Enrique Canas Escobar, 31, was involved in a high-speed chase with law enforcement in Virginia, leading to his arrest and subsequent deportation proceedings.
Moreover, the Tren de Aragua gang has also been linked to violent robberies in Manhattan, including incidents in Times Square, and some members have faced charges related to attacks on NYPD officers.
This gang is similarly associated with exploitative sex work along Roosevelt Avenue, where immigrant women are often coerced into prostitution to settle debts owed to smugglers.
Despite repeated police raids targeting the area, illegal operations persist.
