AUSA VICKIE E. LEDUC at 410-209-4885

November 14, 2006

TWO MS-13 GANG MEMBERS CONVICTED ON ALL COUNTS

Greenbelt, Maryland - A federal jury convicted Edgar Alberto Ayala, age 29, of Suitland, Maryland and Oscar Ramos Velasquez, age 21, of Baltimore, today of conspiracy to participate in a racketeering enterprise and conspiracy to commit assaults with a deadly weapon to maintain and increase their postions in MS-13, announced United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Rod J. Rosenstein. Ayala was also convicted of conspiracy to commit murder in aid of racketeering. Velasquez was also convicted of two counts of assault with a deadly weapon in aid of racketeering and use of a firearm in relation to a crime of violence.

United States Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein said, “These convictions are an important step in a coordinated effort by federal, state and local authorities to combat violent gangs in Maryland. The RICO statute is a powerful tool that allows us to prosecute gang members in federal court for the activities of the criminal organization they chose to join. The young men who were convicted today may spend the rest of their lives in federal prison. We need school administrators and school teachers to help us spread the word about the penalties for joining violent gangs."

Mr. Rosenstein added, "Most Maryland jurisdictions now have adopted anti-gang strategies that combine law enforcement, education and community awareness in a coordinated program to deter gang violence."

Special Agent in Charge Gregory K. Gant of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives stated, “The guilty verdict in the trial demonstrates how serious and determined ATF and its law enforcement partners are in bringing violent criminals to justice. We have and will continue to work tirelessly to protect our communities from senseless acts of gang violence and intimidation. Violent criminals involved in the MS-13 gang, or in any criminal gang, have no place within our communities and we will target and remove them. It should be known to potential offenders that your alliance with these violent gangs and groups will not just get you a membership into the gang, but can get you a lifetime membership in federal prison.”

Colonel David Rohrer, Chief, Fairfax County Police Department, said “I commend the cooperative efforts of my detectives, other local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies, and the United States Attorney's Office for the District of Maryland for this investigation and conviction. As a result of these efforts, we are a long way toward holding those responsible for the senseless killing of 14-year-old Anthony Campos in Fairfax County in January, 2005 fully accountable.”

Colonel Rohrer added, “The Fairfax County Police Department is resolute in our commitment to combat violent criminal gangs, and we will continue to leverage our expertise and resources with our regional and federal partners to further this goal.”

According to testimony presented at the six week trial, the defendants conspired to operate an MS-13 enterprise in Prince George’s and Montgomery Counties through a pattern of racketeering activity which included six murders in Maryland and one in Virginia; the use of deadly weapons including firearms, baseball bats, machetes, bottles or knives in the commission of numerous murders, attempted murders and assaults; assaults on an MS-13 gang member from El Salvador, juvenile females and rival gang members; kidnaping, robbery, obstruction of justice and witness tampering.

Trial testimony showed that Velasquez and other MS-13 gang members possessed a deadly weapon while he sexually assaulted two juvenile females at a “skipping party” on May 12, 2003; and assaulted rival gang members outside a nightclub in Langley Park, Maryland on September 17, 2004. Ayala falsely testified before a state grand jury in Prince George’s County that was investigating the May 2004 murder of Ashley Antonio Urias. On January 21, 2005 Ayala picked up other MS-13 gang members and drove with them to an apartment building in Fairfax, Virginia to look for rival gang members. Two MS-13 gang members shot at the crowd of youths sitting outside the apartment building, injuring two juveniles and murdering one man.

Each defendant faces a maximum sentence of life in prison for conspiracy to participate in a racketeering enterprise. U.S. District Judge Deborah K. Chasanow scheduled sentencing for both Ayala and Velasquez on February 23, 2007 at 9:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m., respectively.

United States Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein praised the investigative work performed by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; the Prince George’s County Police Department; the Federal Bureau of Investigation; U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement; the Montgomery County Department of Police; the Howard County Police Department; the Maryland National Capital Park Police; the Maryland State Police and the Fairfax County, Virginia Police Department.

Mr. Rosenstein thanked Prince George’s County State’s Attorney Glenn F. Ivey, Montgomery County State’s Attorney Douglas F. Gansler, and Fairfax County, Virginia, Commonwealth’s Attorney Robert F. Horan, Jr., for the assistance that they and their offices provided.

Mr. Rosenstein commended Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sandra Wilkinson and James Trusty, and Prince George’s County Assistant State’s Attorney Laura Gwinn, who are prosecuting the case..