An MS-13 leader believed to have overseen a kill squad for the bloodthirsty gang — and who is linked to the killing of the son of the former president of Honduras — was arrested in Nebraska on Monday, the agency said.

Gerson Emir Cuadra Soto, 33, aka “Fantasma,” was taken into custody in Grand Island, 150 miles west of Omaha, on immigration-related charges, the FBI said Tuesday.

Cuadra is believed to have overseen “El Combo,” an MS-13 kill squad designated to carry out assassinations on behalf of the gang. He has been charged in Honduras with four homicides, authorities said. 

Authorities suspect he played a role in the July 2022 killing of Said Lobo Bonilla, the son of former Honduran President Porfirio Lobo Sosa. Bonilla and three other men were killed as they left a nightclub in the Honduran capital of Tegucigalpa.

FEDS NAB SUSPECTED MS-13 GANGSTER, TOP 700 ARRESTS IN DC CRACKDOWN

Cuadra fled Honduras following the quadruple murder. He and two co-defendants were released from jail after government officials were paid $125,000 in bribes, federal prosecutors said, according to an unsealed affidavit.  

Authorities allege that Cuadra entered the United States in November by crossing from Mexico into Texas and later obtained a California driver’s license.

Honduran authorities identified Cuadra as a close associate of Yulan Archaga Carias, known as “Porky,” who is listed on the FBI’s Top 10 Most Wanted fugitives list. Carias is believed to be MS-13’s leader in Honduras and a voting member of the gang’s leadership group, “La Mesa.”

SCOOP: WHITE HOUSE TOUTS GUNS AND DRUG HAUL REMOVED FROM DC STREETS AS TRUMP’S CRIME BLITZ NETS 550 ARRES

He is charged by the Justice Department with racketeering conspiracy, cocaine importation conspiracy, and possession of and conspiracy to possess machine guns.

Despite Cuadra’s arrest on immigration charges, the FBI’s Houston office, which led the investigation that resulted in his arrest, continues to investigate him for his alleged role as an MS-13 leader. 

The case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative aimed at dismantling drug cartels and transnational criminal organizations, and to protect communities from violent crime.

Fox News Digital reached out to the FBI, the Justice Department and the Department of Homeland Security for more information, but did not immediately receive a response.

In February, President Donald Trump designated several groups — mostly drug cartels, including MS-13 — as Foreign Terrorist Organizations, expanding the government’s ability to crack down on criminal groups operating in the U.S.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency was wrong to determine Michigan met federal health and environmental standards for ozone pollution or smog in the Detroit area in 2023, a federal appeals court judge has ruled.

U.S. 6th Circuit Court of Appeals Judge Helene White on Dec. 5 issued a split decision in a case about how environmental regulators measured Detroit air quality in 2022, when wildfire smoke drifted over Detroit and affected the air quality monitor readings for a few days in June.

Michigan considered those days “exceptional events” because of the wildfire smoke and didn’t include the high ozone pollution readings in its calculation to the EPA.

With those days tossed, the state was able to argue in 2023 that Michigan met federal air quality standards for ground-level ozone pollution. The seven-county Metro Detroit region had previously been out of compliance with the ozone standards.

MILWAUKEE – Ryan Ufko and David Edstrom scored goals for the Admirals, but they dropped a 4-2 decision to the Chicago Wolves on Saturday night at historic Panther Arena.

Big picture view:

The loss extended the Ads losing streak to five games.

Check out the new and improved FOX Sports app

By the numbers:

The Wolves grabbed an early lead when Bradley Nadeau potted his ninth goal of the season 8:21 into the game.

David Edstrom and the Admirals league-leading power-play knotted the score at one with just under seven minutes to play in the frame. With the penalty winding down, Cole Hara’s shot from between the wheels was deflected in by Edstrom for his fifth tally of the year.

However, the Wolves would score two more to close out the frame, including one by Domonic Fensore with just 0.7 seconds left in the first.

Milwaukee would get one back during the second period courtesy of a Ryan Ufko power-play marker. Stationed in the high slot, Ufko took a feed from Daniel Carr and ripped a one-timer over the shoulder of Chicago netminder Amir Miftakhov.  

FREE DOWNLOAD: Get breaking news alerts in the FOX LOCAL Mobile app for iOS or Android

The Ads pressed for the tying goal and had a 6-on-4 advantage late in the third period, but Chicago’s Justin Robidas scored an empty-netter to seal the deal for the Wolves.  

What’s next:

The Admirals will hit the road for their final three games before the Christmas break, beginning Wednesday morning at 11 a.m. against the Wolves. The Ads’ next home contest will be on Saturday, Dec. 27 at 6 p.m. against the Grand Rapids Griffins.