'We Are At War:' Dozens Of MS-13 Gang Members Arrested, Indicted

Dozens of MS-13 gang members from Hempstead, Roosevelt and Uniondale were indicted on multiple criminal charges Thursday. The Nassau County District Attorney's Office announced that 41 people, ranging in age from 15 to 30, some of whom were already in jail, were indicted for their parts in multiple felonies. It was the culmination of four years of investigative work, and the largest takedown of MS-13 members in Nassau County history.

The 41 people, 17 of whom entered the country as unaccompanied children, are charged with various crimes in the 85-count indictment, including first- and second-degree conspiracy, second-degree attempted murder, as well as assault, weapons possession and other related charges. More than 30 of the defendants face up to 25 years to life in prison on if convicted on the top charges against them. As alleged in the indictment, there were 13 violent incidents in Hempstead, nine in Uniondale, four in Westbury, three in Inwood and elsewhere in the county.

According to Homeland Security, 17 of the indicted defendants entered the country as un-accompanied children. Two of the people indicted on Thursday were previously deported, and are currently in custody of the Department of Homeland Security.

RELATED: MS-13: An Inside Look At The Brutal Gang And Its Insidious Spread On Long Island

"MS-13 has terrorized communities, killed innocent people and stolen the childhoods of the vulnerable young people they recruit to join their ranks," District Attorney Madeline Singas said. "Today’s arrests, along with targeted multi-jurisdictional efforts of our local, state and federal partners, will make our communities safer and we will be unrelenting in our efforts to stop MS-13 from recruiting in our schools and spilling blood in our neighborhoods."

Among those indicted were:

• Jose Barahona
• Bryan Bonilla
• Christian Jimenez
• Pedro Romero
• Jaime Reyes
• Jeustin David Maldonado
• Luis Mancia
• Franklin Moronta
• Kelvin Lopez-Herrera
• Francisco Samuel Romero
• Evilson Edgardo Orellana
• Cesar David Avila Rodriguez
• Marlon Reyes
• Christian Chavez
• Miguel Urias Argueta
• Jose Hernandez
• Fidel Hernandez
• Johanna Barriga

The takedown announced Thursday was separate from the massive ICE sweep of 39 MS-13 members that was announced Wednesday.

Singas said that MS-13 has been an increasingly insidious problem in communities like Hempstead and Uniondale, where gang members have been "aggressively recruiting" in local high schools. Students who turn them down are often targeted for harassment, making their lives increasingly difficult.

Nassau Police Commissioner Thomas Krumpter said that the takedown of these 41 gang members will make a significant impact on MS-13 in Nassau. The police have identified more than 300 active members of the gang, he said.

"I want to be clear that these defendants do not represent the vibrant immigrant community that makes so many invaluable contributions to our way of life here on Long Island," Singas said. "Gang members are criminals. But the overwhelming majority of our immigrant neighbors are hard-working, law-abiding, peaceful people who came here for a better life. More often than not, the victims of these gang members are immigrants themselves. And we will do everything we can to protect them."

Unlike other gangs, which are motivated by greed, MS-13 is not. According to Jason Molina, assistant special agent in charge of Homeland Security Investigation's New York field office, MS-13 tries to wrest control of an area through fear and violence. Many of the acts of violence alleged in the indictment were carried out with machetes and handguns.

"Make no mistake," Molina said. "We are at war."

According to Singas, immediately after a December 2016 takedown of alleged members of the Salvadorians with Pride gang, members of the Nassau County Police Department Gang Investigation Squad and the NCDA Special Operations, Narcotics and Gangs Bureau dedicated additional resources to a broad investigation into MS-13.

• RELATED: MS-13: An Inside Look At The Brutal Gang And Its Insidious Spread On Long Island

Analyzing approximately a dozen historic incidents involving alleged MS-13 members, police officers and prosecutors approached formerly reluctant witnesses and victims seeking information about gang activities. As the investigation progressed, it was discovered that 32 separate acts of violence in Nassau County can possibly be attributed to the indicted individuals.

During the investigation, it was established that a person seeking to be a member of MS-13 must be “jumped in,” which involves the candidate being beaten about the body and torso by initiated members for at least 13 seconds.

The candidates that are accepted must then pledge to “put in work” at the direction of older members of the gang. These acts include assaults, stabbings, shootings and other acts of violence. The candidate must also agree to kill someone if called upon to do so and this agreement is required for membership.

Based on earlier investigations, recruitment for MS-13 starts as early as middle school, with several juvenile respondents having their cases resolved in Family Court within the last year.

Typically, a group of gang members will surround the child they are looking to recruit. Gang members ask them what gang they already belong to and then will yell and threaten the child that they must join MS-13. In many occasions, the child breaks away and heads home, but this technique is frequently repeated until the child gives in and joins. MS-13 members will flash machetes and guns to kids they are looking to intimidate and recruit, and will threaten physical harm to them and their families.

As alleged in the indictment, the 32 violent incidents and conspiracy counts span more than four years, from March 31, 2013 through June 2, 2017.

In one instance, six of the indicted gang members approached four victims playing soccer at Hempstead Lake State Park in May 2016. The defendants approached, surrounded the victims, identified themselves as member of MS-13 and then attacked the four victims with large knives and machetes, repeatedly slashing the victims, Singas said.

"The message today is clear: if you're thinking of joining a gang, don't. There is support to help you avoid this life," Singas said. "If you're in a gang, there are resources to help you get out of the life. And if you're a gang member committing acts of violence on Long Island, be forewarned that you will be prosecuted and arrested and held to the highest possible punishments."

Photos: Alex Costello/Patch