The Justice Department dropped charges against Henrry Josue Villatoro Santos, a top MS-13 leader living in the United States illegally, after he was arrested on weapons charges in a major operation conducted by the FBI, ICE, ATF, and other law enforcement agencies. The El Salvador native will now face the deportation process, Attorney General Pam Bondi announced. The charges were dismissed without prejudice, leaving open the possibility for prosecutors to charge Santos again in the future. Santos was found hiding in his mother’s Virginia home during the raid, which uncovered a cache of weapons and other incriminating evidence.
Santos’ lawyer argued for a delay in the deportation process, fearing that his client would be quickly sent to a prison in El Salvador. However, Bondi is seeking a fast track for Santos’ removal from the country. She called Santos one of the top leaders of MS-13 and responsible for heinous acts, stating that America is now safer with him off the streets. Santos, who was recruited into the gang as a middle school student, was charged with possession of a firearm while being in the country illegally. His arrest was part of a larger effort by law enforcement to crack down on illegal migrant criminals, with nearly 350 suspects being arrested in March.
MS-13, a violent gang founded in Los Angeles in the 1980s, has been designated as a Foreign Terrorist Organization by President Donald Trump. The gang is known for committing a range of crimes including high-profile killings, kidnappings, and drug-related offenses across the United States. Santos’ arrest was part of a broader effort to target MS-13 and other criminal organizations operating within the country. Bondi expressed confidence that Santos would not be remaining in the US for much longer as the deportation process moves forward swiftly.
Santos was captured during a joint operation involving multiple law enforcement agencies, who stormed his mother’s home and used a stun grenade to apprehend him after he refused to follow their commands. A search of the home uncovered multiple firearms, ammunition, and silencers, along with incriminating documents. Bondi highlighted Santos’ link to violent crimes committed by MS-13 on the East Coast, emphasizing the importance of removing such dangerous individuals from the country. Prosecutors presented Santos’ mother with the evidence found during the search, reinforcing the seriousness of the charges against him.
Despite Santos’ lawyer’s attempts to delay the deportation process, Bondi is moving forward with seeking his removal from the country. She emphasized the fact that Santos should never have been in the United States and that his arrest has made America safer. Bondi’s efforts are part of a broader crackdown on criminal organizations like MS-13, which have been a significant source of violence and crime in communities across the country. The dismissal of charges against Santos signals a renewed focus on deporting and prosecuting individuals involved in gang-related activities and other criminal offenses.
