Alleged MS-13 Member Charged In Violent Racketeering Scheme

ARLINGTON, VA — An alleged MS-13 member from Arlington, VA accused of ordering gang hits in Houston, TX and extorting business owners in Wheaton was indicted by a federal grand jury Wednesday.

Luis Arnoldo Flores-Reyes, also known as "Maloso" and "Lobo," was charged in a four-count superseding indictment alleging everything from murder, drug trafficking, racketeering and more.

The 37-year-old is allegedly a member of the Sailors Clique of MS-13.

Prosecutors said Flores-Reyes and 11 others who were previously charged are alleged to have also trafficked marijuana and cocaine in Langley Park with the proceeds benefiting MS-13.

Flores-Reyes is further accused of allegedly extorting owners of illegal businesses in Langley Park and Wheaton from at least 2015 through in or about 2017.

Flores-Reyes "gave directions to members of MS-13 in Houston, Texas that they should purchase a gun and shoot rival gang members who were believed to have killed a member of MS-13" in January 2018, prosecutors said.

The gang members in Houston shot at and attempted to kill suspected rival gang members on or about Jan. 28, prosecutors said. Flores-Reyes and other MS-13 members, including members in El Salvador, monitored the shooting by phone.

Flores-Reyes is in custody, prosecutors said.

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