Homeland Security Investigations
National Gang Unit
National Gang Unit (NGU)
The NGU was created in 2008 to oversee the following major
operational and programmatic areas:
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Operation Community Shield
National HSI SURGE operations
Criminal gang investigations, including VICAR and RICO
ICEGangs database
Law Enforcement Sensitive
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Mission Statement
The Homeland Security Investigations’ National Gang Unit will leverage
its anti-gang initiative “Operation Community Shield” to enhance U.S.
public safety by developing strategic domestic and foreign law
enforcement partnerships, and utilizing those partnerships along with all
of our unique legal authorities to target gangs, suppress their violence
and prosecute their criminal enterprises.
Law Enforcement Sensitive
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2011 Estimated Gang Membership
Members
Gangs
Street
1,140,344
30,313
OMG
44,108
2,965
Prison
231,136**
N/A
*Based on 2010 and 2011 NGIC and NDIC data
**Based on reporting from 32 states
Law Enforcement Sensitive
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Blurring of Lines
• The lines between transnational gang activity and
organized crime are blurry
• Gangs developed organizational structure, capital, and
manpower required to run sophisticated criminal schemes
• Some aim to penetrate state/political levels
Law Enforcement Sensitive
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Gangs Illicit Activities and Proceeds
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Homicide
Human Trafficking/Prostitution
Malicious Wounding/Felonious Assault
Auto Theft
Witness Intimidation
Drug Trafficking/Distribution/Smuggling
Human Smuggling
Illegal Immigration
Fraudulent Documents
Firearms Trafficking
White Collar Crime-IPR, Mortgage
Fraud, etc.
Law Enforcement Sensitive
COMMON THREAD
Money Laundering $$$$$$
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Maritime Cocaine Routes
COMMON THREAD
•Countries with high gang
populations
•Cartels movement is from
Colombia to Mexico to Central
America
Law Enforcement Sensitive
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Mexico
• Gangs are present in 20
of the 32 Mexican
States according to
Mexican PGR 2010
report
• MS-13, 18th Street,
Barrio Azteca, Mexican
Mafia, Mexicles and
Artistas Asesinos
• Same areas as Mexican
DTO’s
Law Enforcement Sensitive
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US Based Gangs with Ties to MDTO’s
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AZ New Mexican Mafia
Aryan Brotherhood
Avenues
Bandidos
Barrio Azteca
Barrio Westside
Black Guerilla Family
Bloods
California Mexican Mafia (EME)
Crips
Hardtimes 13
Happytown Pomona
Hells Angels
Hermanos de Pistoleros Latinos
La Nuestra Familia
Latin Kings
Lennox 13
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Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13)
Mexican Mafia
Mongols
Nortenos
Satins Disciples
Surenos
Tango Blast
Texas Mexican Mafia (Mexikanemi)
Texas Syndicate
Tri-City Bombers
Vagos
Vatos Locos
Westside Nogalitas
Wetback Power
Wonder Boys
18th Street
Law Enforcement Sensitive
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Law Enforcement Sensitive
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Hand in Hand
Law Enforcement Sensitive
* as of 1 OCT 2012
Law Enforcement Sensitive
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Bulk Cash Smuggling
Top 10 State Totals
2320 seizures
$328,044,404
Large Quantities of Bulk Cash
Law Enforcement Sensitive
Inter Agency Cooperation
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Partnerships with state, local, federal,
and international LE agencies are the
linchpin to the success of HSI gang
enforcement operations like SURGE.
Our LE partners provide actionable
intelligence which is critical in the
targeting of gangs and their
membership for enforcement actions.
HSI Special Agents work with our
partners to develop complex federal
criminal prosecutions.
Law Enforcement Sensitive
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The Evolution of Gang Enforcement
RICO and VICAR Offenses
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HSI Special Agents exploit intelligence
gathered from SURGE operations to pursue
complex criminal enterprise investigations.
HSI Special Agents work with LE partners to
secure complex federal criminal prosecutions.
HSI has solidified a leadership role in the
investigation of transnational criminal street
gangs such as MS-13 through this approach.
Law Enforcement Sensitive
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Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13)
Literal Meaning: Mara: Derived from the Mara bunta ant which is a ant that is ferocious and moves in packs, turning into the slang term for
gang—Salva: refers to El Salvador—Trucha: refers to literally a “trout”, but means in slang clever or sharp, proud.
• MS-13 originated in L.A. in 1980’s.
• 1,000’s of El Salvadorans fled civil war, settled in L.A.
• Originally, main purpose was to protect El Salvador
immigrants from other, more established gangs in L.A.
• MS-13 grew, became more violent, deportations increase
and repatriated MS-13 members to El Salvador
Law Enforcement Sensitive
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Current Status of MS-13
The number of members of MS-13 continues to grow, as does the
presence of MS-13 in other countries throughout the world:
• U.S. (over 10,000 members in more than 40 states)
• Canada, Costa Rica, Panama, Peru, Ecuador, Spain,
Germany, El Salvador, Honduras, Guatemala, Belize,
Mexico, and Italy to name a few
• Over 40,000 members worldwide
Law Enforcement Sensitive
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MS-13 Criminal Activities
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Homicide
Human Trafficking/Prostitution
Malicious Wounding/Felonious Assault
Auto Theft
Witness Intimidation
Drug Trafficking/Distribution/Smuggling
Human Smuggling
Illegal Immigration
Fraudulent Documents
Firearms Trafficking
Law Enforcement Sensitive
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MS13 Levels Leadership Recognized in El Salvador
International Leader
Bosses or National Leaders
National Leaders or «Ranfla»
Leaders of Prison Programs
Leaders of Programs
(outside of prison)
In Charge of Clique Leaders
In Prison
Clique Leaders
Hitment/Assasins
Extortion
Drugs
Soldiers/Members
Law Enforcement Sensitive
Lookouts
Collaborators
Surveillance
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National Leaders
Hollywood
Locos
International Leaders
Leeward Locos
Zacatecoluca Prison
Gotera Prison
Ciudad Barrios Prison
Chalatenango Prison
Free
(a) Diablito HLS
Western
Locos
Centrales Locos
(a) Chino o
(a) Chivo,
Tecolote
Chino o
Gordo
Seven & Eleven
Locos
Hollywood
Locos
Western Locos
(a) Viejo
Pavas
(a) Ladrón
o Croock
(a)
Colocho
(a) Rata LLS
Principal Bosses
Leeward Locos
(a) Koky
Park View Locos
(a) Laky,
Blacky
Fulton Locos
(a) Fox,
Travieso
Pasadena Locos
Francis Locos
Francis Locos
(a) Snayder
(a) Flaco
Teclas Locos
(a) Trece ,
(a) Barón,
Shayboys o
Sponky
Ángel
, C. A.
Leader
Teclas Locos
(a) Xisco
Word and In Charge of Programs
Wildman Locos
Criminal Gangster
Locos
(a) Lasio ó (a) Slow,
Diablito
lento
Teclas Locos
Criminal Gangster
Locos
(a) Player,
Pelón
Criminal
Gangster Locos
Park View Locos
Efraín Cortez
(a) Tigre o Chivo
Park View Locos
Sailor Locos
(a) Chino ó
Loche
Teclas Locos
Normandie Locos
Stoner Locos
Viroleños Locos
(a) Santos
(a)
Greñas
(a)
Pantera
Delicias Locos
(a) Sleepy (a) Llama o
(a)
(a) Diablon (a) Power ó (a) Viejo
Infierno o
Diablito, ó
Jacher
Chele
Lobo
Cuervo
Leewards Locos
(a)
Snyper
Fulton Locos
(a) Largo
Zaragoza Locos San Cocos Locos
(a) Spider
Quezaltecos Locos
(a) Black
o Chaky
Leewards Locos
(a)
Midget
Normandie Locos
(a) Varelita ó (a) Barney
(a)
Payaso
Payaso
Law Enforcement Sensitive
Opico Locos
(a) Tío
Sam
Hollywood Locos
Western Locos
Teclas Locos
(a) Moreno (a) Snoopy (a) Spider
o Araña
o Norteño
San Cocos Locos
Gangster Poliedros
Hollywood Locos
(a)
(a) Flen o
(a) Shuky
Cerebro
o
Humilde
Taz
(a) Necio
ó Chaky
Quisantos
MS-13 Programs
U.S. BASED
MS13
SOYAPANGO
SANTA ANA
LA LIBERTAD
LA PAZ
SAN MIGUEL
CENTRO
CHALCHUAPA
PORTEÑOS
CUSCATLÁN
SHULTON
SAN MARTÍN
SAN COCO
ARCE
CABAÑAS
JIQUILISCO
MODELO
AHUACHAPÁN
QUEZALTEPEQUE
DOWN TIME
MORAZANES
ILOPANGO
CRIMINAL LIRO SAICO
GANSTERS
LOS ÁNGELES
EAST COAST
HOLLYWOOD
LEEWARDS
FULTON
GUAZAPA
PROYECTO
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5CEDROS
5
PINOS
PARK VIEW
UNIONENSES
STONER
SANTA ROSA
LA HERMANDAD
DELICIAS
SANTA LUCIA
SAN MARCOS
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GUANACOS LIRO SAICOS
NOVENA
NEW YORK
BUENOS CRIMINALES
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SALVATRUCHOS UNIDOS
DE DALLAS
HOUSTON
(In Formation)
Law Enforcement Sensitive
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Operation Community Shield Overall Statistics
Total Arrests: 29,366*
Gang Leaders: 374
Criminal Arrests: 16,505
Administrative Arrests: 12,861
MS-13 Members: 4,163
Violent Criminal History: 11,913
Firearms Seizures: 4,137
Law Enforcement Sensitive
* as of 1 JAN 2013
Specially Designated Nationals (SDN) List
The SDN List is posted on OFAC’s
website and used by the U.S.
financial community to screen
transactions and accounts.
Available at:
http://www.treasury.gov/ofac/downloa
ds/t11sdn.pdf
Law Enforcement Sensitive
How Blocking Works
SDN List
Banks
automatically
download
SDN List
All
accounts/wire
transfers
screened
against SDN
List
Law Enforcement Sensitive
Transactor/
customer
identity
matched
with SDN
Funds
blocked
E.O. 13581—TCO’s
On July 25, 2011, Executive Order (EO) 13581 was signed by President
Obama imposing sanctions against four significant Transnational
Criminal Organizations (TCOs) and authorizing the Department of the
Treasury to target TCOs worldwide.
Designated TCOs
-Brothers’ Circle/Moscow Center
-Los Zetas
-Mara Salvatrucha (added October 11, 2011)
Law Enforcement Sensitive
-Camorra
-Yakuza
Designation Criteria Under EO 13581
Significant TCO
(Identified by
President or
Treasury
Secretary)
Entity
(Identified
by
Treasury)
Individual
(Identified
by
Treasury)
Designation Criteria (Tier 1)
-one or more foreign persons;
-engages in an ongoing pattern of serious
criminal activity;
-involves the jurisdictions of at least two
foreign states;
-threatens the national security, foreign
policy, or economy of the United States.
Designation Criteria (Tier 2)
- to have materially assisted, sponsored,
or provided financial, material, or
technological support for, or goods or
services …
-to be owned or controlled by, or to have
acted or purported to act for or on behalf
of, directly or indirectly…
Law Enforcement Sensitive
Information Used to Support Designation
Memorandums are drafted by OFAC investigators to document data used
to justify designation.
They consist of supporting information from any relevant U.S. or nonU.S. source including:
•Press articles;
•Business records;
•Academic studies;
•Law enforcement investigative reports;
•Court documents such as indictments and rulings
Law Enforcement Sensitive
Targeting of MS-13
TCO
Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13)
Top Tier
Key Leader
Linked
Entities/Individuals
Financial Intermediary
Law Enforcement Sensitive
Financial Intermediary
Desired Outcomes
• Target the financial and support networks of illicit
organizations in coordination with law enforcement
• Interdict financial flows from U.S. MS-13 components
• Generate new leads for law enforcement as to who is
moving money on behalf of MS-13 out of the U.S.
• Focus international attention on the continued threat and
expanding presence of MS-13
Law Enforcement Sensitive
NGU Points of Contact
•
Jason Shatarsky, Section Chief
202.732.5778 desk
202.907.3677 cell
Law Enforcement Sensitive
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