MS-13 gang member in Mass., fugitive since 2017, arrested in Texas, feds say

An alleged member of a department of the violent MS-13 gang in Massachusetts was arrested earlier this week in Texas after being on the run for shut to 5 years, authorities mentioned.

William Pineda Portillo, also referred to as “Humilde,” was arrested Tuesday in Roma, Texas for his alleged involvement within the gang. He’s accused of being a member of the Trece Loco Salvatrucha, or TLS MS-13 clique, which operated in and round Somerville, in accordance with a press release from the U.S. Legal professional’s Workplace.

Portillo was indicted in federal courtroom in Boston on Might 15, 2017 on one depend of conspiracy to take part in a racketeering enterprise, extra generally known as RICO conspiracy. After his arrest warrant was issued, federal brokers decided he had been deported to El Salvador underneath a unique identify, prosecutors mentioned.

It was not till Monday, roughly 5 years after Portillo’s indictment, that federal brokers encountered him close to Roma and decided he had beforehand been deported and was needed on the excellent arrest warrant for the RICO conspiracy cost, in accordance with authorities.

He made an preliminary look in federal courtroom within the Southern District of Texas and was ordered detained pending his return to U.S. District Court docket in Boston, the U.S. Legal professional’s Workplace mentioned.

As alleged in courtroom paperwork, MS-13 is a violent transnational prison group. Its branches, or “cliques,” function all through the USA, together with in Massachusetts. To additional its mission, members of the gang are required to commit acts of violence, particularly towards rival gang members. They’re additionally tasked with killing informants in addition to supporting and defending fellow members in assaults. MS-13 rewards members who commit acts of violence with promotions throughout the gang and punishes members who break its guidelines, in accordance with legislation enforcement.