WASHINGTON, July 28 /EMWNews/ -- Three leaders of La Mara

Salvatrucha, or MS-13, pleaded guilty to participation in a racketeering

enterprise, Acting Assistant Attorney General Matthew Friedrich of the

Criminal Division and U.S. Attorney Edward M. Yarbrough for the Middle

District of Tennessee announced today.



    At the plea hearing on July 28, 2008, in Nashville, Tenn., before Chief

U.S. District Judge Todd J. Campbell of the Middle District of Tennessee,

Oscar Serrano, a/k/a "Diablin," Escolastico Serrano, a/k/a "Chito," and

Ronald Fuentes, a/k/a "Spia," admitted that as leaders of the MS-13 gang,

they conspired with others to participate in a pattern of racketeering

activity in the Nashville metropolitan area, that included murder,

attempted murder and witness tampering. In addition to personally

committing various acts of violence, the three defendants admitted they

exercised leadership by enforcing the rules of MS-13 and inciting other

members to attack and kill rival gang members.



    The three leaders were scheduled to go to trial on the RICO indictment

returned by a federal grand jury on Jan. 10, 2007. Four other defendants

were previously sentenced to lengthy prison terms after pleading guilty to

the RICO conspiracy. Walter Hernandez was sentenced on March 31, 2008, to

324 months in prison. On Dec. 3 and Dec. 7, 2007, respectively, Henry

Garballo-Vasquez and Jose Alfaro were sentenced to 240 months in prison. On

Nov. 20, 2007, Geovanni Pena received a sentence of 235 months in prison.

As part of his guilty plea, Escolastico Serrano has agreed to be sentenced

to 45 years in prison. At sentencing scheduled for Sept. 26, 2008, Oscar

Serrano and Ronald Fuentes both face sentences ranging from 30 years in

prison to life in prison.



    The MS-13 street gang is a violent international criminal organization

composed primarily of immigrants or descendants of immigrants from El

Salvador. As alleged in the indictment, the purpose of the racketeering

enterprise was to preserve and protect the power, territory and profits of

the MS-13 enterprise through violent assaults, murder, threats of violence

and intimidation.



    "Today's plea details the murder, intimidation and violence caused by

criminal gangs such as MS-13 and underscores our commitment to bring such

offenders to justice," said Acting Assistant Attorney General Matthew

Friedrich. "By combining the resources and expertise of local, state and

federal law enforcement, we can and we will disrupt and dismantle violent

criminal enterprises like MS-13."



    The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jimmie Lynn Ramsaur

of the Middle District of Tennessee and Trial Attorney John Han of the

Criminal Division's Gang Squad.



    U.S. Attorney Yarbrough praised the efforts of prosecutors Ramsaur and

Han saying, "These convictions of dangerous gang-related criminals come

after many months of hard work by law enforcement officers from local and

federal agencies. Ramsaur and Han, along with the entire team that put this

case together, deserve the gratitude and respect of all Middle Tennesseans.

Our office will continue to place strong emphasis on prosecution of gang

members and individuals who pose a threat of violence in our community."



    The case was investigated by the Nashville Metropolitan Police

Department's Gang Suppression Unit; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco,

Firearms and Explosives; U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement at the

Department of Homeland Security; the Davidson County District Attorney

General's Office; the U.S. Attorney's Office in the Middle District of

Tennessee; and the Criminal Division's Gang Squad.