MS-13 Clique Leader and Associates Indicted on Racketeering Charges in Maryland

A superseding indictment has been unsealed in federal court, charging eight individuals with RICO conspiracy offenses related to their alleged involvement with a Baltimore County-based MS-13 clique. The charges stem from alleged participation in firearm trafficking, drug distribution, and robbery crimes as part of a broader criminal conspiracy, as announced by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Maryland.

The indictment names Luis “Duke” Melendez Serrano, 19, of El Salvador; Kevin Melendez Serrano, 23, of El Salvador; Alex “30” Pena Martinez, 19, of Honduras; William “36” “Midnight” “Oso” Rivera Nolasco, 19, of Owings Mills, Maryland; German “19” “Viejo Raro” “Raro” Lisandro Benites Moreno, 32, of El Salvador; Melanie “Mala,” Pina Verde, 22, of Owings Mills, Maryland; Joshua Palacios, 18, of El Salvador; and Nilson Montecinos, 21, of Honduras. Investigations were led by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Baltimore, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Baltimore, and the Baltimore County Police Department (BCPD).

According to court documents, German Benites Moreno, prior to his current incarceration, led an MS-13 clique in New Jersey. Even while imprisoned in a New Jersey state facility since at least December 2024, Benites Moreno allegedly continued to lead this clique, identified as “Los Ghettos Criminales Salvatruchas” (LGCS). His alleged activities included facilitating the gang’s involvement in firearm trafficking, drug distribution, money laundering, and instances of violence. The indictment further states that Benites Moreno participated in LGCS meetings in Baltimore County and exerted control over gang activities, including assaults and robberies, while imprisoned.

Melanie Pina Verde is accused of playing a central role in allowing LGCS members to store firearms and narcotics at her apartment throughout 2025. She also reportedly permitted the gang to conduct its operations from her residence and served as a conduit between the incarcerated Benites Moreno and other active LGCS members.

The superseding indictment details alleged criminal conduct from January 28, 2025, through October 16, 2025, during which Luis Melendez Serrano, Alex Pena Martinez, William Rivera Nolasco, and Kevin Melendez Serrano are accused of conspiring to traffic firearms to individuals prohibited from possessing them. During the same period, Luis Melendez Serrano, Pena Martinez, and Rivera Nolasco also allegedly trafficked controlled substances, including methamphetamine and marijuana.

In September 2025, Joshua Palacios, Nilson Montecinos, and other LGCS members allegedly carried out multiple assaults and robberies as part of their gang affiliation. One reported incident involved an MS-13 member brandishing a handgun and placing it against a victim’s head during a robbery. The indictment also indicates that during these robberies, victims were instructed to apologize to LGCS leadership, including Benites Moreno.

This case is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative, which aims to dismantle criminal cartels, foreign gangs, and transnational criminal organizations through a coordinated approach to enhance public safety and national security. The HSTF comprises personnel from federal agencies, including law enforcement agents and intelligence analysts, working collaboratively to combat crime. Furthermore, this investigation is linked to Operation Take Back America, a nationwide Department of Justice effort focused on combating illegal immigration, eradicating cartels and transnational criminal organizations, and protecting communities from violent crime perpetrators.

It is important to note that an indictment is an accusation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

U.S. Attorney Kelly O. Hayes acknowledged the efforts of HSI, ATF, and BCPD in the investigation, as well as the assistance provided by HSI-Newark and the New Jersey Department of Corrections. Assistant U.S. Attorneys James G. O’Donohue III and Stanton M.B. Lawyer are prosecuting the case.

Article by Mel Anara, based upon information from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Maryland

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