By Gangsters Inc. Editors

Federal authorities in the U.S. came down hard on MS-13’s international leadership yesterday. The FBI, DEA, and HSI unsealed an indictment on Wednesday April 10, charging 57-year-old David Campbell, also known as Viejo Dan and Don David, of Honduras, one of the principal narcotics and weapons suppliers to MS-13 in Honduras, with racketeering, narcotics, and firearms offenses.

Campbell was presented on Wednesday before U.S. Magistrate Judge Sarah Netburn in Manhattan federal court after being extradited Tuesday from Honduras.

In addition to Campbell, the superseding indictment also charges Yulan Andony Archaga Carías, also known as Alexander Mendoza and Porky, 42, of Honduras, the top leader of MS-13 in Honduras, and three additional MS-13 leaders, Juan Carlos Portillo Santos, also known as Juancy, 35; Victor Eduardo Morales Zelaya, also known as Cuervo, 49; and Jorge Alberto Velasquez Paz, also known as Chacarron, 41, for racketeering, narcotics trafficking, and firearms offenses.

Most Wanted

Campbell and Archaga Carías were previously charged in 2021 in a superseding indictment in Manhattan federal court with racketeering, narcotics trafficking, and firearms offenses. Archaga Carías was subsequently placed on the FBI’s Ten Most Wanted Fugitives List, the DEA’s Most Wanted Fugitives List, HSI’s Most Wanted Fugitives List, and a $5 million reward was offered by the U.S. Department of State for information related to his arrest or capture. Portillo Santos and Velasquez Paz are in custody in Honduras. Morales Zelaya remains at large.

“Over the course of decades, MS-13 has sowed unspeakable violence in communities here in the United States and abroad,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “With the arrest and extradition of the alleged principal MS-13 drug and weapons supplier, the Justice Department is making clear that those responsible for flooding our communities with violence and deadly drugs will be held accountable in an American courtroom.”

“Today’s extradition of David Campbell and the announcement of charges against four other MS-13 leaders for their alleged involvement in trafficking multi-ton loads of cocaine and for allegedly perpetrating unspeakable acts of violence in our communities is a testament to the unwavering commitment of the men and women of DEA to save lives and hold drug traffickers accountable,” said Administrator Anne Milgram of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). “DEA will continue to seek justice for all Americans suffering the devastating effects of drug poisonings and drug-related violence in our communities.”

Cocaine, kidnapping, and death

According to the superseding indictment, MS-13 is a transnational criminal organization that engages in acts of violence, including murders, kidnapping, assaults, extortion, and large-scale drug importation and distribution throughout Central America and the United States.

Archaga Carías is the highest-ranking member of MS-13 in Honduras. As the leader and highest-ranking member of MS-13 in Honduras, Archaga Carías is in charge of, among other things, the gang’s drug trafficking operations; ordering and coordinating acts of violence, including numerous murders; and the laundering of drug proceeds. Morales Zelaya and Velasquez Paz are both leaders of MS-13 in Honduras and close associates to Archaga Carías. MS-13’s drug trafficking operations led by Archaga Carías, Morales Zelaya, Velasquez Paz, and others include the processing, receiving, transporting, and distributing of multi-ton loads of cocaine shipped through Honduras and into the United States.

“MS-13’s brutal violence is fueled by firearms, funded by narcotics trafficking, and disguised by money laundering,” said Director John J. Durham of Joint Task Force Vulcan (JTFV). “As alleged in the superseding indictment, David Campbell and his co-conspirators procured and sold multi-ton loads of narcotics, deployed firearms, including machine guns, and laundered the drug proceeds, all in furtherance of the organization. Thanks to the tenacious efforts and collaboration of our law enforcement partners, he now will face justice in a U.S. courtroom.”

Organization

Archaga Carías and other MS-13 members and associates acting at his direction also provided protection for other drug trafficking organizations (DTO) engaged in transporting multi-ton loads of cocaine through Honduras and destined for the United States. Archaga Carías contracted out members of MS-13 as “Sicarios,” or hitmen, to other DTOs for payment. In that role, MS-13’s Sicarios committed numerous murders for hire for DTOs trafficking cocaine through Honduras to the United States. Archaga Carías and MS-13 also supplied other DTOs with firearms, including machineguns, that were received from El Salvador, Nicaragua, and elsewhere. Archaga Carías – and Morales Zelaya, Velasquez Paz, and Portillo Santos, operating under Archaga Carías’ leadership – also ordered and coordinated murders of rival gang members and drug trafficking competitors in Honduras, as well as other members of MS-13 whom Archaga Carías believed had been disloyal to the gang.

Campbell was one of the principal suppliers of cocaine and weapons, including machineguns, to MS-13 in Honduras. As an associate of MS-13 and close confidant of Archaga Carías, Campbell planned and coordinated retaliatory acts of violence with Archaga Carías and assisted MS-13 and Archaga Carías in establishing businesses to launder the gang’s drug proceeds. Campbell and MS-13 used businesses they owned or controlled to launder drug proceeds, including through banks in the United States.

Morales Zelaya and Velasquez Paz were both leaders of MS-13 in Honduras and close associates of Archaga Carías. Morales Zelaya and Velasquez Paz each coordinated the gang’s drug trafficking business, acts of violence (including murders) against rivals, and the movement of proceeds from the gang’s illicit activities.

Portillo Santos was a high-ranking member of MS-13 in Honduras who reported to Morales Zelaya. He was responsible for leading MS-13 in one of the largest sectors in Honduras, which included the distribution and movement of large shipments of cocaine, acts of violence (including murders and kidnappings) of rival gang members, and contract murders carried out against rival drug dealers.

Archaga Carías and Morales Zelaya remain at large. The $5 million reward offered by the U.S. Department of State remains valid today. Anyone with information that may lead to the arrest of Archaga Carías or Morales Zelaya can contact the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI. 

If convicted, Campbell, Archaga Carías, Portillo Santos, Morales Zelaya, and Velasquez Paz face a maximum penalty of life in prison and a mandatory minimum of 40 years in prison.