Eight young men have been charged for their alleged roles in a gang racketeering conspiracy that operated in the Maryland suburbs of Washington, D.C.
The U.S. Attorney's Office said in a news release Wednesday that the men were named in a superseding indictment that a federal grand jury returned last month.
The men, who range in age from 18 through 22, are alleged to be members of MS-13. The indictment says they were members and associates of MS-13 who planned and committed homicides, drug and gun trafficking, and extortion.
The homicides included a slaying in March in Bedford County, Virginia.
Prosecutors say all eight men are in custody.
According to the release, the following were charged:
Carlos Roberto Tejada Cruz, a/k/a "Krusty," age 20, of Beltsville, Maryland;
Kevin Alexis Hernandez-Guevara, a/k/a "Stop," age 20, of Landover Hills, Maryland;
Rolando Aristides Juarez-Vasquez, a/k/a "Virus," a/k/a "Daffy," age 22, of Hyattsville, Maryland;
Jeffry Rodriguez, a/k/a "Hyper," age 21, of Beltsville, Maryland;
Junior Noe Alvarado-Requeno, a/k/a "Insolente," a/k/a "Trankilo," age 20, of Landover, Maryland;
Michael Eduardo Contreras, a/k/a "Katra," a/k/a "Insoportable," age 22, of Silver Spring, Maryland;
Luis Fernando Orellana-Estrada, a/k/a "Pinguino," age 18, of Hyattsville, Maryland; and
Donald Roberto Mendez-Lopez, a/k/a "Chuckie," age 18, of Hyattsville, Maryland.
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AP has contributed to this report
