A Maryland man was sentenced today to 26 years in prison for racketeering conspiracy, including murder, connected to his participation in La Mara Salvatrucha, a transnational criminal enterprise also known as MS-13.
According to court documents, Kevin Alexander Castillo Calderon, also known as Fantasma, Ghost, Eterno, and Josue Argueta Gonzalez, 25, of Adelphi, and his co-defendants were members and associates of the Weedams Locos Salvatrucha (WLS) clique of MS-13. MS-13 is one of the largest street gangs in the United States and is composed primarily of immigrants or descendants from El Salvador and other Central American countries.
Members of MS-13 are expected to protect the name, reputation, and status of the gang from rival gang members and other persons, at all times, using any means necessary to force respect from those who showed disrespect, including acts of intimidation and violence. One of the principal rules of MS-13 is that its members must attack and kill rivals whenever possible. Participation in criminal activity by a member, particularly in violent acts directed at rival gangs or as directed by gang leadership, increases the respect accorded to that member, resulting in that member maintaining or increasing his position in the gang, and opening the door to promotion to a leadership position.
On Aug. 8, 2020, WLS members, including Castillo Calderon and co-defendants WLS leader Brayan Alexander Torres, 30, of Adelphi, and Franklyn Edgardo Sanchez, 26, also of Adelphi, were gathered at a park in Prince George’s County, Maryland. Castillo Calderon, Torres, Sanchez, and other WLS members agreed to murder Victim 4, who was suspected of cooperating with law enforcement and to whom Sanchez owed a debt. Sanchez and another MS-13 member murdered Victim 4, then other WLS members dragged Victim 4’s body to a stream and left it there. Once in the stream, Castillo Calderon picked up a large rock and dropped it on Victim 4’s head. As he was leaving the woods, Sanchez was concerned that his DNA may have been left on the body. To prevent the discovery of DNA or other evidence and to hinder the investigation and prosecution of Victim 4’s murder, other WLS members were called and ordered to bring shovels to the wooded area, where they dug a hole and buried Victim 4’s body. In addition, at Torres’ direction, Castillo Calderon took the guns used to shoot Victim 4 and Victim 4’s cell phone, put them in a bag he was carrying, and disposed of the evidence. Victim 4’s body was later recovered with a bullet wound to the head.
Castillo Calderon was also responsible for collecting extortion payments, or “rents,” from extortion victims on behalf of WLS, knowing that the victims making extortion payments did so under the threat of physical violence by members of WLS. For example, gang members used baseball bats to impose rent and sometimes collected rent while displaying firearms or otherwise making it known that they were carrying weapons.
Castillo Calderon pleaded guilty in August 2023 to RICO conspiracy.
Torres and Sanchez were each previously sentenced to 28 years in prison upon their prior guilty pleas. The court also ordered each to pay restitution in the full amount of the victim’s losses, including any funeral costs.
Acting Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney Erek L. Barron for the District of Maryland, Assistant Director Michael D. Nordwall of the FBI’s Criminal Investigative Division, Acting Special Agent in Charge R. Joseph Rothrock of the FBI Baltimore Field Office, Special Agent in Charge James C. Harris of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Baltimore, and Chief Malik Aziz of the Prince George’s County Police Department made the announcement.
The FBI, HSI, and the Prince George’s County Police Department investigated the case, with substantial assistance from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations and the Montgomery County Police Department.
Trial Attorney Christopher Taylor of the Criminal Division’s Violent Crime and Racketeering Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Joel Crespo for the District of Maryland are prosecuting the case. (https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/ms-13-gang-member-sentenced-racketeering-conspiracy)
