The Federal Bureau of Investigation is offering a $100,000 reward for information to hunt down fugitive MS-13 gang leader in Honduras who was indicted in New York for trafficking tons of cocaine to the United States.
Yulan Andony Archaga Carías, 39, was charged in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York with racketeering conspiracy, conspiring to import cocaine, and possessing and conspiring to possess machine guns, according to an indictment unsealed Wednesday.
Archaga Carías’ associate David Campbell, a Honduran national jailed in Nicaragua, is facing similar charges.
Archaga Carías, who goes by the aliases of Alexander Mendoza and Porky, allegedly controlled the MS-13’s criminal operations in Honduras and supplied support and resources to the network throughout Central America and the United States.
Yulan Andony Archaga Carías, identified by U.S. federal authorities as the MS-13’s leader in Honduras, was placed on the FBI’s Ten Most Wanted List on Wednesday. The FBI offered a $100,000 reward for his capture and/or conviction.
Yulan Andony Archaga Carías is accused by the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York with racketeering conspiracy, conspiring to import cocaine, and possessing and conspiring to possess machine guns
U.S. authorities claim that a fugitive gang leader gave weapons, drugs, money and other financial aid to the MS-13.
Archaga Carías is accused of also supporting drug trafficking organizations that shipped tons of cocaine through Honduras to the United States and ordering the killings of rival members and others linked to his gang.
Anne Milgram (administrator of the Drug Enforcement Administration) stated that MS-13 has been associated with extreme violence for decades. ‘The only way to weaken and disrupt criminal organizations that wreak havoc on our communities is to attack them at their core – their leadership and suppliers. ‘
David Campbell, who was the MS-13’s leader in Nicaragua, is also accused by the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York of committing racketeering, narcotics trafficking, and firearms offenses
The announcement of the bounty comes as Archaga Carías was added to the FBI’s Ten Most Wanted Fugitive’s List as well as the DEA’s and Homeland Security Investigations’ most wanted lists.
“This indictment shows the determination of the FBI to aggressively pursue transnational crime gangs such as MS-13. Jay Greenberg, acting assistant Director of the FBI’s Criminal Investigative Division, stated that they will work with law enforcement partners to locate wanted fugitives wherever these people seek refuge and hold them responsible for their crimes.
U.S. Attorney Damian Williams indicated that Archaga Carías had previously worked to plot ‘violent attacks’ with Campbell, the MS-13’s former top leader in Nicaragua, who oversaw the gang’s finances and drug trafficking activities.
Campbell claimed to be a businessman. After five years of being on the run, he was captured June by Nicaraguan authorities.
According to the Department of Justice Campbell and the MS-13 used companies ‘they owned’ or controlled to launder drug proceeds. This included through banks in the United States.
John J. Durham director of Joint Task Force Vulcan stated that MS-13 violence was fueled by drug trafficking. The indictment, which charges the highest ranking leader of MS-13 Honduras and one of MS-13’s main drug suppliers in Honduras shows that the Department of Justice is able to bring down any leader of MS-13.