
In a major breakthrough for law enforcement, Freddy Ivan Jandres-Parada, a man accused of being a senior leader within the notorious MS-13 gang, has been captured by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) on the California-Mexico border.
Senior MS-13 gang leader, one of FBI’s most wanted, arrested on southern border https://t.co/EEisGmQh78 pic.twitter.com/Ejg0kabEHV
— New York Post (@nypost) March 23, 2024
The arrest marks the culmination of a four-year manhunt for Jandres-Parada, who was reportedly a member of the gang’s board of directors, known as the Ranfla Nacional.
MS-13, or Mara Salvatrucha, has long been associated with a range of criminal activities, including murder, drug trafficking, extortion, and gang violence, extending across the United States, Mexico, and Central America. The Eastern District of New York’s federal prosecutors had accused Jandres-Parada of playing a pivotal role in directing these nefarious activities, especially focusing on operations within the United States, Mexico, and El Salvador.
In an effort to apprehend Jandres-Parada, the FBI had offered a reward of up to $10,000 for information leading to his arrest. According to the FBI, “Freddy Ivan Jandres-Parada is wanted for his alleged involvement in the direction of MS-13 activity in the United States, Mexico, and El Salvador.”
“Jandres-Parada has been charged with several terrorism offenses for his alleged role in ordering numerous acts of violence against civilians, law enforcement, and rival gang members, as well as drug distribution and extortion schemes worldwide,” the FBI added.
The 48-year-old was finally arrested in San Diego, California, on March 7, as reported by CNN. Following his arrest, Jandres-Parada reportedly waived his right to bail during a court proceeding. Currently, he is being held at a federal jail in San Diego, awaiting transfer to New York where he will face the federal charges laid out by prosecutors, including terrorism charges.
Prosecutors allege that the gang operated “military-style training camps; obtained weapons, handguns, rifles, grenades, improvised explosive devices (‘IEDs’) and rocket launchers” and “directed acts of violence and murder in El Salvador, the United States and elsewhere.”
Jandres-Parada had been on the run since December 2020. He was among 14 other MS-13 members indicted in the Eastern District of New York federal court, who were identified as members of MS-13’s board of directors.
Two of the members, César Humberto López-Larios and Hugo Armando Quinteros-Mineros, remain at large.
Of the 14 defendants, Freddy Ivan Jandres-Parada, Hugo Armando Quinteros-Mineros, and Cesar Humberto Lopez-Larios remain at large. Call 1-866-787-6713 or visit https://t.co/iL7sD5efWD if you have information about their whereabouts. Rewards are available. https://t.co/7DvrQinAao pic.twitter.com/5wEmeOG6nH
— FBI (@FBI) January 14, 2021