By Josh Bergeron

josh.bergeron@salisburypost.com

Three dozen alleged gang members, including some Rowan County residents, have been indicted by a federal grand jury on racketeering conspiracy charges, said the state’s acting Western District U.S. Attorney Jill Westmoreland Rose on Wednesday.

A total of 37 people from Landis, Kannapolis, Charlotte and foreign countries were charged. The charged individuals were allegedly part of the MS-13 street gang.

As a part of the indictment, law enforcement officers on Wednesday morning arrested 16 of the alleged gang members. Five remain at large and 16 are currently in state custody, according to a news release.

Locals indicted as a part of alleged gang activity include:

• Saul “Scrappy” Gavidia, 20, of Landis, who is charged with conspiracy to participate in racketeering activity.

• Albert “Conejo” Vela-Garcia, 25, of Landis, who is charged with conspiracy to participate in racketeering activity, attempted murder in aid of racketeering, using or carrying a firearm in relation to a crime of violence and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence attempted murder in aid of racketeering.

• Salvadaor “Chava” Ruiz, 26, of Kannapolis, who is charged with conspiracy to participate in racketeering activity, attempted murder in aid of racketeering, using or carrying a firearm in relation to a crime of violence and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence attempted murder in aid of racketeering.

• William “Duro” Gavidia, 23, of Kannapolis, who is charged with conspiracy to participate in racketeering activity.

“As outlined in today’s indictment, the alleged MS-13 gang members have committed numerous violent crimes, including armed robberies, assaults and murders for the benefit of the criminal enterprise,” Rose said. “Today’s charges send a clear message to gangsters who think their gang affiliation puts them beyond the law’s reach.”

All of the alleged gang members could face life in prison, according to the news release. Several could receive the death sentence.

Among the lengthy list of crimes are racketeering, murder in aid of racketeering, attempted murder in aid of racketeering and assault with a deadly weapon in aid of racketeering.

The MS-13 gang originated in Los Angeles and contains more than 6,000 members in the United States and 30,000 internationally, according to the news release.

The arrested locals allegedly held meetings at various times to discuss gang-related matters and plan crimes for the benefit of MS-13, according to the indictment. The 37 people are accused of distributing drugs, committing armed robberies, extortion, illegal possession of weapons, assault of individuals suspected of cooperating with law enforcement and murder.

The indictment alleges that murders occurred in Charlotte and Rock Hill, S.C., in 2011, 2013 and 2014.

Defendants arrested Wednesday made initial appearances before a U.S. magistrate judge in Charlotte before being transferred to custody of U.S. Marshals, a news release said.

“The arrest of these MS-13 gang members is part of a coordinated law enforcement effort to eradicate gang violence in North Carolina,” said John Strong, FBI special agent in charge of Charlotte. “Innocent families should not suffer because of the callous and violent actions of others.”

Contact reporter Josh Bergeron at 704-797-4246