Three alleged MS-13 members were indicted Thursday in U.S. District Court in Alexandria on 10 charges, including an August 2004 murder.
Wilfredo Montoya Baires, 27, of Reston, Freddy Escobar, 24, of Sterling, and Wilmer Lopez-Lopez face charges of conspiracy to commit murder in aid of racketeering at an April 14 arraignment. Lopez-Lopez’s age and residence were not available. All three men are being held in federal prison.
Baires and Escobar face charges of murder in aid of racketeering and use of a firearm during murder. The three men also face charges including making false statements to federal agents and using fake green cards.
According to the indictment, the three men were members of the Silvas Locos Salvatrucha, a clique within MS-13, and had received an order to kill Jose Escobar, 22, in Manassas on Aug. 11, 2004, because he was giving information to law enforcement officers.
The alleged gang members blocked the exits of Escobar’s home, then shot and stabbed him, according to police reports.
“We will aggressively root out gang violence at its source and arrest and prosecute those who engage in gang violence,” said U.S. Attorney Chuck Rosenburg.
Baires, Escobar and Lopez-Lopez faced charges in Prince William County related to the murder in March 2005, but all three cases were dropped pending more evidence, Commonwealth’s Attorney Paul Ebert said after the March hearings.
Lopez-Lopez’s attorney declined comment. Attorneys representing Baires and Escobar could not be reached for comment.
The U.S. district attorney has prosecuted three gang-related murder cases involving nine defendants since November 2003. Each defendant was sentenced to life in prison, though several have had their sentences reduced for cooperating with officials, according to the U.S. Attorney’s office.
