Seven MS-13 gang members indicted for conspiring to kill rival in Hudson County

A dozen top-ranking members of the international violent street gang “Mara Salvatrucha” (MS-13) have been indicted on charges of racketeering, drug trafficking, conspiracy to commit murder and other related crimes, U.S. Attorney General Paul Fishman announced on Thursday. 

By John Heinis/Hudson County View

“Members and leaders of MS-13 allegedly conspired to bring all United States cliques under a central command,” Fishman said in a written statement.

“According to the charges, the defendants wanted to use this new formalized structure to open new drug distribution channels facilitated by cartel alliances and bloodshed. Today’s indictment reaches gang leaders and members responsible for crime and violence in New Jersey, whether they were on the streets of Jersey City or on smuggled cell phones in a California or Central American jail.”

Based on the scenario laid out in the 12-person indictment, three MS-13 leaders in El Salvador and four gang leaders in New Jersey “greenlit” the murder of a rival gang member in Hudson County back in November of last year and law enforcement officials arrested the conspirators before the killing could be executed.

Carlos Sandoval-Batres, 40, Jose Elias Garcia-Hernandez, 35, Christian Linares Rodriguez Valez, 34, Rudy Hector Guttierez, 22, Hector Luis Carranza-Solis, 30, Luis Lopez-Guzman, 24 and Marvin Garcia-Cruz, 31 have all been charged with conspiracy to commit murder in aid of racketeering.

The charges comes with a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine for each individual defendant.

Fishman credited the FBI offices in both Newark and Los Angeles, as well as the Hudson and Union County Prosecutor’s Offices, for their assistance in the case.