MS-13 Gang Member From Silver Spring Charged In Violent Racketeering Conspiracy

SILVER SPRING, MD — A Silver Spring man is one of eight alleged MS-13 members who are charged in a violent racketeering conspiracy, including four murders and drug trafficking, the Department of Justice announced Wednesday.

Michael Eduardo Contreras, 22, of Silver Spring faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison for conspiring to participate in a racketeering enterprise. He is also charged with conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute controlled substances, which carries a penalty of up to 20 years in prison, prosecutors said.

According to the indictment, the eight defendants are allegedly members of the Sailors Clique of MS-13. Prosecutors said MS-13 is a national and international gang composed primarily of immigrants or descendants of immigrants from El Salvador. It is one of the largest street gangs in the U.S. and operates throughout Montgomery County and Prince George's County.

Prosecutors believe that from at least 2015 through September 2017, the defendants were "members and associates of MS-13 who planned and committed murders, drug and gun trafficking and extortions."

The Sailors Clique is alleged to have extorted owners of illegal businesses in Langley Park and Wheaton, with the extortion proceeds being sent to El Salvador to benefit MS-13, prosecutors said. Members of the Sailors Clique are also accused of trafficking narcotics, including marijuana and cocaine, in Langley Park, with the proceeds benefiting the gang.

Contreras, also known as "Katra" and "Insoportable," allegedly arranged for members of the Sailors Clique to travel from Maryland to Lynchburg, Va., where they murdered a victim in Bedford County, prosecutors said.

Prosecutors also believe that on June 16, 2016, a gang member named Junior Noe Alvarado-Requeno, 20, of Landover, planned with and directed other MS-13 members and associates to murder a man who was thought to be a member of the rival 18th Street gang in Gaithersburg.

The Sailors Clique members also allegedly murdered a man on July 29, 2016. Prosecutors said gang members lured a victim to a secluded location. Carlos Roberto Tejada Cruz, 20, of Beltsville is accused of trying to shoot the victim, while the other members then stabbed the victim to death. Prosecutors did not say where this murder took place.

Members are also accused of shooting and killing a victim in the Adelphi area June 1, 2017.

The eight defendants are identified as:

• Michael Eduardo Contreras—aka “Katra” and “Insoportable"—22, of Silver Spring, faces a maximum of 20 years in prison
• Carlos Roberto Tejada Cruz—aka “Krusty"— 20, of Beltsville, faces a maximum sentence of life in prison
• Kevin Alexis Hernandez-Guevara—aka “Stop”— 20, of Landover Hills, faces a maximum sentence of life in prison
• Rolando Aristides Juarez-Vasquez—aka “Virus" and “Daffy”— 22, of Hyattsville, faces a maximum sentence of life in prison
• Jeffry Rodriguez—aka “Hyper”— 21, of Beltsville, faces a maximum of 20 years in prison
• Junior Noe Alvarado-Requeno—aka “Insolente" and “Trankilo”— 20, of Landover, faces a maximum sentence of life in prison
• Luis Fernando Orellana-Estrada—aka “Pinguino”— 18, of Hyattsville, faces a maximum of 20 years in prison
• Donald Roberto Mendez-Lopez—aka “Chuckie"— 18, of Hyattsville, faces a maximum of 20 years in prison

All of the defendants are in custody, prosecutors said.

An indictment is not a finding of guilt, and an individual charged by indictment is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty at some later criminal proceedings, prosecutors said.

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