The Justice Department reportedly announced on Wednesday that Joel Vargas-Escobar, a high-ranking member of the MS-13 gang, has been arrested in New York.
This illegal immigrant from El Salvador is linked to a racketeering conspiracy involving 11 murders. Vargas-Escobar, who was previously deported in 2018, is alleged to be part of the MS-13 command structure operating in Las Vegas and California.
The charges against him include racketeering conspiracy, two counts of murder-in-aid of racketeering, and several gun-related offenses. He was apprehended on Long Island.
Attorney General Pam Bondi stated that this arrest enhances public safety, emphasizing that the organization he represents is labeled a terrorist group.
Under the current administration’s leadership, she pledged relentless efforts to dismantle MS-13 and imprison its members.
Vargas-Escobar is accused of leading the “Parkview” clique of MS-13 in Las Vegas and is believed to have ordered two murders directly while orchestrating nine others.
According to the DOJ, the victims were reportedly taken to remote locations for torture before being killed.
FBI Director Kash Patel hailed the arrest as a significant victory for law enforcement, asserting that agents are actively collaborating across various offices to ensure ongoing efforts against gang violence continue unabated.
Following his first court appearance in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York, Vargas-Escobar is expected to be transferred to Nevada to face trial. If convicted, he could receive a life sentence.
This arrest comes shortly after the FBI apprehended 24-year-old Henrry Josue Villatoro Santos, identified as the top MS-13 leader on the East Coast, further underscoring ongoing law enforcement actions targeting the gang.
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