Greenbelt, Maryland - U.S. District Judge Roger W. Titus sentenced Mario Efrain Arias, age 20, of Adelphi, Maryland today to 55 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release for possession of a firearm with an obliterated serial number, announced United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Rod J. Rosenstein. Judge Titus enhanced Arias’ sentence based on his leadership in the MS-13 gang, after finding the sentencing guidelines of 10 to 16 months “woefully inadequate” to reflect the seriousness of the offense.

According to information provided to the court, Arias is a leader and member of an MS-13 clique known as Langley Park Salvatrucos (LPS). According to his plea agreement, Prince George’s County police officers and ATF agents searched Arias’s home on April 4, 2006 and recovered a .22 caliber revolver. The serial number on the gun had been scratched over in an apparent effort to conceal the number. Arias admitted that he bought the gun for $200.

To date, this office has charged 46 MS-13 gang members with various federal offenses; 18 gang members have been convicted at trial or pled guilty to RICO charges and 13 have pleaded guilty to other charges, mostly immigration or gun violations.

United States Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein praised the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and Prince George’s County Police Department for their investigative work in this case. Mr. Rosenstein thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney James M. Trusty, who prosecuted the case.