NASHVILLE — A multiyear, joint investigation has led to the last of 18 defendants involving MS-13 gang members being sentenced to a combined total of two life sentences, 730 years and three months in federal prison for 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.
The international street gang is composed largely of individuals of Salvadoran or Central American descent. The defendants were members and associates of the local MS-13 clique, the Thompson Place Locos Salvatrucha clique, which has operated in Nashville since at least 2014. The MS-13 gang, through its local cliques, seeks to preserve and protect its power, territory, reputation and profits through murder, attempted murder, robbery, kidnappings, extortion and other criminal activities.
“HSI, alongside our law enforcement partners, remains vigilant in combating transnational gangs and holding criminals accountable for their egregious actions,” said Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Nashville Special Agent in Charge Rana Saoud. “These violent gangs’ brazen acts of violence terrorize the communities we serve and reflect a total disregard for human life.”
This joint investigation is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force operation that identifies, disrupts and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multiagency approach.
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, MS-13 gang members engaged in illegal activities under the protection of the enterprise, including drug trafficking, robbery, extortion and other crimes to generate income. They would often steal vehicles to carry out these illegal activities. Funds generated by the illegal activity provided financial support to gang leaders, members and associates, including individuals incarcerated in the United States and in El Salvador.
The defendants were convicted for a range of offenses, including racketeering conspiracy, conspiracy to commit murder in aid of racketeering, murder in aid of racketeering, attempted murder in aid of racketeering, conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute controlled substances, drug distribution, destruction of evidence, tampering with evidence, and numerous firearms offenses. The defendants were sentenced as follows:
- Jorge Flores, 31, was sentenced to life plus 65 years in federal prison.
- Kevin Tidwell, 30, was sentenced to life plus 30 years in federal prison.
- Luis Colindres, 27, was sentenced to 55 years in federal prison.
- Jose Pineda-Caceres, 25, was sentenced to 52 years and three months in federal prison.
- Gerson Serrano-Ramirez, 36, was sentenced to 34 years in federal prison.
- Carlos Ochoa-Martinez, 34, was sentenced to 30 years in federal prison.
- Francisco Avila, 26, was sentenced to 30 years in federal prison.
- Franklin Hernandez, 24, was sentenced to 28 years and 11 months in federal prison.
- Jason Sandoval, 38, was sentenced to 20 years in federal prison.
- Oscar Delgado-Flores, 30, was sentenced to 19 years and eight months in federal prison.
- Angel Daniel-Garcia, 38, was sentenced to 13 years and nine months in federal prison.
- Bryan Paredes, 27, was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison.
- Jose Calderon, 24, was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison.
- Hector Venturas, 28, was sentenced to 12 years and seven months in federal prison.
- Juan Melendez, 25, was sentenced to eight years in federal prison.
- Franklin Pineda-Caceres, 23, was sentenced to eight years and six months in federal prison.
- Sergio Alvarado-Ochoa, 30, was sentenced to two years and six months in federal prison.
- Anabely Caceres, 44, was sentenced to a time-served sentence of one year and one month.
“This result sends a clear message that we will not tolerate the senseless violence and intimidation committed by MS-13 in our district,” said acting U.S. Attorney Thomas J. Jaworski. “All gang members and associates should be on notice that this office will use every means possible to investigate, prosecute and seek lengthy federal prison sentences for those who terrorize our community. I cannot overstate the efforts by our prosecutors and law enforcement partners to bring these gang members to justice. Thanks to these efforts, both Nashville and those victimized are safer today with these criminals removed from our community, in some cases, for life.”
“Today’s sentencing is another example of the ATF’s relentless commitment to reduce violent crime,” said Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Special Agent in Charge Marcus Watson. “As evidenced by this case, the ATF will pursue individuals or groups who perpetuate violence and disrupt the lives of the citizens within our communities. The ATF will continue to work with our federal, state and local partners to disrupt and dismantle criminal gangs that bring fear and terror to our neighborhoods. We are committed to working around the clock to bring justice to violent criminals and remove them from our streets.”
“This case should serve as warning to criminal gangs who terrorize our communities with violence and sow misery through drug trafficking; these activities will not be tolerated,” said acting Special Agent in Charge Erek Davodowich, head of Drug Enforcement Administration's (DEA) Louisville Division. “MS-13 is an especially violent street gang … DEA and our law enforcement partners will continue to work tirelessly to rid these and other violent offenders from our communities and bring them to justice.”
“The safety of our communities is paramount, and TBI remains committed to pursuing, along with our law enforcement partners, these violent individuals that engage in dangerous and illegal activities,” said Director David Rausch of the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation.
“This gang-influenced violence in our city resulted in at least 10 murders and shocking crimes against several other persons,” Metropolitan Nashville Police Department Chief John Drake said. “The relentless work of our specialized investigations and homicide detectives, combined with the strong partnership of our federal and state law enforcement colleagues, has again sent a clear message that Nashville will not tolerate this criminality. Life and decadeslong federal prison sentences speak volumes.”
Cooperation with law enforcement is strictly prohibited under MS-13’s rules. It is well understood within the gang that anyone who assists authorities will be punished with death. Members are also required to confront, fight and kill rival gang members, and to retaliate quickly and viciously against anyone who disrespects or threatens the gang’s authority, power, reputation or control of a neighborhood. By committing murders, prospective members gained entrance into MS-13 or earned respect among the members.
In addition to numerous acts of drug distribution and firearms offenses, the MS-13 members and associates were also convicted of conspiring with each other and committing the following acts of violence:
- On April 6, 2016, MS-13 members and associates, including Jose Pineda-Caceres, murdered Victim 1 because they believed he was a rival gang member. They lured Victim 1 to a secluded field in a rural area of Davidson County, Tennessee, under the guise that they were going to smoke marijuana. When they arrived at the field, the gang members confronted Victim 1 about their belief that he was in a rival gang before shooting him multiple times. Victim 1 died in the field.
- On July 31, 2016, MS-13 members and associates, including Jose Pineda-Caceres, went to a party at a South Nashville nightclub. Victim 2 and his younger sister, Victim 3, were at the nightclub with friends celebrating Victim 3’s 18th birthday. Pineda-Caceres saw Victim 2 and believed he was a rival gang member. When Victim 2 left the nightclub with his friends and Victim 3, Pineda-Caceres and another MS-13 associate chased Victim 2’s car on Interstate 24 and shot into his car. A bullet struck Victim 3 and killed her. Pineda-Caceres fled the United States after this murder, but he was arrested when he returned to the United States in November 2017.
- On Nov. 13, 2016, MS-13 members and associates were at a South Nashville nightclub when they saw Victim 4 and believed he was a rival gang member. The MS-13 members and associates followed Victim 4 from the nightclub to his apartment in Antioch, Tennessee. An MS-13 member shot Victim 4 and then fled. Victim 4 died from his injuries.
- On or about Jan. 18, 2017, MS-13 members and associates, including Flores, saw Victim 5 at a Wal-Mart in Antioch and believed he was responsible for a recent murder of an MS-13 member. The MS-13 members chased Victim 5 as he rode in a car with his girlfriend and her young children. The MS-13 members eventually cornered Victim 5’s car and shot into it, striking Victim 5 multiple times.
- In February 2017, MS-13 members and associates conspired to murder rival drug dealers, Victims 6 and 7. MS-13 members also conspired to murder another MS-13 member because he associated with Victims 6 and 7. On Feb. 18, 2017, MS-13 members and associates chased the three victims in a car for miles and attempted to kill them by shooting at them. The gang members chased their victims to a South Nashville nightclub, shot at them, and continuously shot into the nightclub, which was filled with patrons. The following weekend, on Feb. 25, 2017, MS-13 members and associates chased the victims again and shot Victim 6 in the neck and torso, causing him to suffer life-threatening injuries. Metropolitan Nashville Police Department officers promptly provided medical care to Victim 6 and helped save his life.
- On April 2, 2017, MS-13 members and associates were inside a South Nashville nightclub when they saw Victims 8 and 9. The gang members informed another MS-13 member and associate who were not in the nightclub of the victims’ presence inside the nightclub and the gang members’ belief that the victims were rival gang members. The MS-13 member and associate outside of the nightclub retrieved an AK-47 rifle and shot Victims 8 and 9 multiple times when they left the club, killing them both.
- On May 21, 2017, MS-13 members, including Flores and Tidwell, were parked in the parking lot of a South Nashville nightclub when they saw Victim 10 pull into the parking lot. The gang members thought Victim 10 was a rival gang member. They drove next to his car and shot him numerous times in his head and torso as he sat in his car. Victim 10 died from his injuries.
- On May 27, 2017, MS-13 members were at a convenience store in South Nashville. Tidwell got into a verbal altercation with Victim 11 and felt disrespected. Tidwell entered a truck, driven by Flores, and waited behind the store until Victim 11 and Victim 12 drove away from the store. The MS-13 members chased the victims while shooting at them with an AK-47 rifle and a 9mm pistol. Victim 11 was struck by the gunfire and died from his injuries. The MS-13 members later burned the truck in an abandoned field.
- On June 17, 2017, several MS-13 members were at a nightclub and confronted Victim 13 for falsely claiming to be an MS-13 member. The gang members summoned additional members to the club for assistance. When the additional members arrived, a fight ensued between the MS-13 members and Victim 13 and his friends. Serrano-Ramirez ultimately retrieved an AK-47 rifle from a car and fired a round of ammunition into the air. The MS-13 members forced Victim 13 in a car and took him to a secluded location where they beat him.
- On July 25, 2017, Gerson Serrano-Ramirez physically assaulted Victim 14 when Victim 14 told the member that MS-13 members and their drug activities were causing problems in a local nightclub. Serrano-Ramirez accused Victim 14 of cooperating with law enforcement then pointed a rifle at Victim 14, choked him with the strap of a rifle, sprayed bleach in his eyes, suffocated him by placing a plastic bag over his head, and broke one of his fingers with a pair of pliers.
- On Sept. 24, 2017, MS-13 members, including Colindres, saw Victim 15 in a South Nashville nightclub and thought he was a rival gang member. MS-13 members watched Victim 15 leave the nightclub with two other individuals, then drove to Victim 15’s apartment complex awaiting his return. When Victim 15 arrived, the gang members blocked the car with their car, got out, and shot Victim 15 in the head and torso multiple times, killing him. The members also killed one of the car’s passengers, Victim 16, by shooting him in the head and torso multiple times to prevent him from cooperating with law enforcement.
- Later that evening, on Sept. 24, 2017, MS-13 members and associates, including Flores and Colindres, lured Victim 17 to a secluded location to murder him for failing to repay a drug debt. When he arrived, they ordered him into the trunk of a car and shot him multiple times. They then drove Victim 17’s body to Cheatham County, Tennessee, where they burned him inside of the car’s trunk to destroy evidence of the murder.
Throughout the course of the conspiracy, the MS-13 members committed several armed carjackings of citizens near the Nashville area.
Acting U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Tennessee Thomas J. Jaworski, Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, Special Agent in Charge Marcus Watson of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives’ Nashville Field Division, Special Agent in Charge Rana Saoud of HSI Nashville, acting Special Agent in Charge Erek Davodowich of the DEA Louisville Field Division, U.S. Marshal for the Middle District of Tennessee Denny King, Metropolitan Nashville Police Chief John Drake, and Director David Rausch of the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation made the announcement.
This case was investigated by HSI Nashville, the ATF, the DEA, the U.S. Marshals Service, the Metropolitan Nashville Police Department, the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, the LaVergne Police Department and the Kentucky State Police.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ahmed Safeeullah and Brooke Farzad for the Middle District of Tennessee and Deputy Chief Matthew Hoff of the Criminal Division’s Violent Crime and Racketeering Section prosecuted this case.
To report any information about suspicious activities, call the HSI Tip Line at 877-4-HSI-TIP. Callers may remain anonymous.