MS-13 Leader Brought To Long Island To Stand Trial: DA

The highest-ranking member of the East Coast cliques of MS-13 has been arraigned in Nassau County on charges of conspiracy to commit murder and trafficking drugs, authorities said. His arrest was a major blow to the gang, authorities say.

Miguel Angel Corea Diaz, aka Reaper, 35, of Laurel, Maryland, was arraigned in Nassau County on Thursday before Acting Supreme Court Justice Patricia Harrington on three counts of operating as a major trafficker and five counts of second-degree conspiracy. If convicted of the top charge against him, Diaz faces up to 25 years to life in prison.

“With today’s arraignment, we now have the highest-ranking MS-13 member on the East Coast in custody,” Nassau County District Attornery Madeline Singas said. “This defendant, known as Reaper, allegedly ordered murders and trafficked large amounts of poisonous heroin up and down the eastern seaboard. What started as a narcotics investigation with the Drug Enforcement Administration quickly expanded in scope and geography to include murder and violence committed by alleged MS-13 members throughout the United States and El Salvador."

The indictment comes just as MS13 has allegedly told its members on Long Island to kill a police officer. According to the New York Post, the gang directed its members to kill an officers specifically in the Hempstead area in order to "take the streets back."

Diaz was one of 17 alleged gang members arrested earlier this year in a huge operation that involved the DEA, FBI and law enforcement agencies across the United States and in other countries. He was allegedly the leader of the "Sailors" clique of the MS-13. At the time, Singas said it was the largest gang takedown her office had ever seen. The investigation into MS-13 was so wide-ranging that local law enforcement was able to share information with authorities in El Salvador which led to the arrest of one of MS-13's kingpins.

Cliques are sub-groups of MS-13. All cliques are MS-13 gang members, and each clique operates individually under its own rules, yet is still under the greater rules of the entire organization. MS-13 mandates that cliques respect each other and their territories. Any issues or conflicts between cliques that require resolution or punishment are handled by MS-13 senior leadership in El Salvador.

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According to Singas, Diaz was the regional director of the Sailors Clique for the entire East Coast. Gang members reported to him, and he reported to MS-13 leadership in El Salvador, authorities say. According to Singas, as the leader of the clique, Diaz would commit acts of violence, including murder, and traffic drugs. Singas said that Diaz and other gang members trafficked large quantities of heroin on Long Island, in the Bronx, in Baltimore, Houston, Jefferson County, Texas, and Long Branch, New Jersey.

Singas said that Diaz allegedly told several of the other gang members to commit murders. Authorities say that on Sept. 26, 2017, Diaz allegedly told Ever Morales Lopez, aka Lenky, to meet up with Edgar Orellano Saravia, aka Chavi, in Elizabeth, New Jersey. Authorities say they were sent to find a good spot to kill a rival gang member, and then discussed where to bury his body and how deep to dig the hole. Lopez and Saravia were arrested before they could carry out their alleged plan.

On Sept. 29. 2017, Singas said that Diaz told another gang member, Augustine Benitez, aka Olvidado, to recruit MS-13 members from Long Island to kill someone in Maryland they believed was working with police. That murder was also prevented by police.

"This investigation proved the law enforcement agencies working together in this community are making an impact on stopping the violent MS-13 gang," FBI Assistant Director-In-Charge William Sweeney said. "Anyone associated with MS-13 should be warned that you won’t be able to commit a crime and simply leave town. We have the ability to work around the country, and the world, to track you down. The FBI and our partners will make sure you are held accountable for your actions."

Among the 17 that were arrested during the operation was David Sosa Guevara, who authorities say murdered 16-year-old Angel Soler and buried his body in Roosevelt.

Diaz was arrested on Oct. 10, 2017 in Prince Georges County, Maryland on charges of sale and possession of heroin. He was extradited to Nassau County on Wednesday.

Photo: Nassau County District Attorney's Office