Executive Summary
- Federal prosecutors indicted alleged leaders of the MS-13 Centrales Locos Salvatruchas (CLS) clique in Baltimore.
- The superseding indictment links the defendants to four murders and two attempted murders since 2023.
- Alleged crimes include a “catfishing” lure murder and the attempted killing of a court witness.
- Six defendants now face charges in the expanded RICO conspiracy case.
BALTIMORE — Federal prosecutors unsealed a superseding indictment on Thursday charging alleged leaders and members of the MS-13 gang’s Centrales Locos Salvatruchas (CLS) clique with a racketeering conspiracy involving four murders, drug trafficking, and witness intimidation. The announcement by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Maryland expands the case to include a total of six defendants accused of orchestrating violent crimes across the city since at least 2023.
According to the indictment, the new charges identify Manuel Alexander “Snappy” Lara Morales, 25, of El Salvador, as the leader of the CLS clique in Baltimore. Prosecutors allege that Eliseo Alexander “Zorro” Lopez Alvarez, 23, also of El Salvador, served as his second-in-command. Federal authorities stated that both men authorized specific acts of violence, including the September 2023 killing of a fellow gang associate following a dispute over drug territory.
Court filings detail a pattern of extreme violence attributed to the group. Prosecutors allege that in November 2023, gang members used a fake Instagram account to pose as a woman, luring a victim to a wooded area in southeast Baltimore where he was shot and killed. This ambush was allegedly authorized in advance by Lara Morales. Additionally, the indictment charges members with the October 2023 attempted murder of a man preparing to testify against a gang member in Baltimore City Circuit Court; the victim survived a gunshot wound to the groin.
The investigation, conducted by the FBI, Homeland Security Investigations, and the Baltimore Police Department, further links the defendants to a March 2024 street shooting and an April 2024 double shooting. Authorities stated that several defendants were formally “activated” into the gang following their participation in these violent acts.
Federal Prosecution Strategy and Legal Proceedings
The use of the Racketeering Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act in this case illustrates the continued federal strategy to dismantle transnational gangs by targeting their command structures and holding leadership accountable for the actions of subordinates. This superseding indictment underscores the ongoing coordination between local law enforcement and federal agencies to address violent crime and witness intimidation within the region. As the case proceeds to trial, the defendants will face significant federal penalties if convicted. However, it is important to note that an indictment is not a finding of guilt, and all individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
