The last defendant of 18 La Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13) gang members charged in connection with a multi-year investigation by federal, state, and local law enforcement was sentenced today. The investigation involved charges of racketeering conspiracy, murder in aid of racketeering, attempted murder in aid of racketeering, kidnapping, drug trafficking, firearms offenses, obstruction of justice, and destruction of evidence.
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, the defendants were members and associates of MS-13’s Thompson Place Locos Salvatrucha clique, which has operated in Nashville, Tennessee since at least 2014. MS-13 is an international street gang composed largely of individuals of Salvadoran or Central American descent. It seeks to protect its power, territory, reputation, and profits through various criminal activities including murder and drug trafficking. Cooperation with law enforcement is strictly prohibited under MS-13’s rules.
In addition to drug distribution and firearms offenses, the defendants were also convicted of conspiring with each other and committing acts of violence. Specific incidents include:
On April 6, 2016: MS-13 members including Jose Pineda-Caceres murdered Victim 1 in Davidson County after luring him to a secluded field.
On July 31, 2016: Pineda-Caceres shot into Victim 2's car on Interstate 24 after a confrontation at a South Nashville nightclub. Victim 3 was killed during this incident.
On Nov. 13, 2016: Jorge Flores and other MS-13 members followed Victim 4 from a nightclub to his apartment in Antioch where he was shot dead.
On Jan. 18, 2017: Flores participated in chasing down Victim 5 at a Wal-Mart in Antioch before shooting him multiple times.
In February 2017: Carlos Ochoa and Flores conspired to murder rival drug dealers (Victims 6 and 7) as well as another MS-13 member associated with them.
Other violent acts included shootings at nightclubs involving AK-47 rifles resulting in multiple deaths (Victims 8–9), armed carjackings near Nashville area citizens throughout the conspiracy period.
The sentences for the defendants are as follows:
Jorge Flores: Life plus 65 years
Kevin Tidwell: Life plus 30 years
Luis Colindres: Fifty-five years
Jose Pineda-Caceres: Fifty-two years three months
Gerson Serrano-Ramirez: Thirty-four years
Carlos Ochoa-Martinez: Thirty years
Francisco Avila: Thirty years
Franklin Hernandez: Twenty-eight years eleven months
Jason Sandoval: Twenty years
Oscar Delgado-Flores: Nineteen years eight months
Angel Daniel-Garcia: Thirteen years nine months
Bryan Paredes: Ten years
Jose Calderon: Ten years
Hector Venturas: Twelve years seven months
Juan Melendez: Eight years
Franklin Pineda-Caceres Seven years six months
Sergio Alvarado-Ochoa Two years six months
Anabely Caceres Time-served sentence one year one month
Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri; Acting U.S. Attorney Thomas J. Jaworski for the Middle District of Tennessee; Special Agent Marcus Watson (ATF); Special Agent Rana Saoud (HSI); Acting Special Agent Erek Davodowich (DEA); U.S Marshal Denny King; Chief John Drake (Metropolitan Nashville Police Department); Director David Rausch (Tennessee Bureau Investigation) made the announcement.
The ATF led the investigation along with HSI DEA U.S Marshals Service Metropolitan Nashville Police Department Tennessee Bureau Investigation La Vergne Police Department Kentucky State Police investigated case Deputy Chief Matthew Hoff Criminal Division Violent Crime Racketeering Section Assistant U.S Attorneys Ahmed Safeeullah Brooke Farzad prosecuted case OCDETF identifies disrupts dismantles highest-level criminal organizations threaten United States prosecutor-led intelligence-driven multi-agency approach Additional information about OCDETF Program www.justice.gov/OCDETF