'Cold-blooded' 9 MS-13 gang members indicted in murders, kidnappings in Nashville

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WZTV) — Nine MS-13 gang members have been indicted in multiple violent crimes including allegations of seven murders, kidnappings, assaults, robberies and large scale drug distribution.

Gang members were indicted in a racketeering and violent crime conspiracy by a federal grand jury in Nashville on Monday. All suspects in the indictment are currently behind bars. Officials said the victims include innocent people.

"MS-13 is one of the most violent, ruthless and cold-blooded gangs to ever walk the face of the Earth," Acting U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Tennessee Mary Jane Stewart said.

The U.S. Attorney's Office said it's part of a 60-count, second superseding indictment. Officials said a MS-13 gang sub-unit operated in Nashville since at least 2014, specifically the Thompson Place Los Salvatrucha clique.

The purpose of the MS-13 enterprise includes preserving and protecting the power, territory, reputation and profits of the enterprise through the use of intimidation and violence, including murder and promoting the enterprise through acts of murder, extortion, drug trafficking and other criminal activities.

The indictment includes seven murders and multiple kidnappings and "flooded" Nashville streets with illicit drugs, primarily cocaine and marijuana. Here is what officials say MS-13 gang members were involved in:

• On April 6, 2016, Jorge Alejandro Potter Alvarado was murdered in Nashville. Read the original report here.
• On July 31, 2016, 18-year-old Liliana Rodriguez was hot and killed in a drive-by shooting on I-24 West. Police said Rodriguez was killed when the gang member was targeting another person. Read the original story here.
• On January 18, 2017, Jorge Flores and another MS-13 gang member attempted to murder a person, identified as R.V., in Nashville by shooting him and attempted to murder three others, identified as H.V., L.A., and H.S. by shooting at them.
• On February 25, 2017, Carlos Ochoa-Martinez, Jorge Flores, Gerson Serrano-Ramirez and Franklin Hernandez attempted to murder a person, identified as "H.S." in Nashville by shooting at him.
• On May 21, 2017, Ammerli Josue Garcia-Munoz, 25, was killed in a targeted shooting in a strip mall parking lot along Murfreesboro Road. Police said the suspect was Jorge Flores, 25. Read the original reports here, here and here.
• On May 27, 2017, Jesus Alberto Flores, 24, was killed in the drive-by shooting on Antioch Pike near McCall Street. Shots were fired into Flores' vehicle from a truck. Kevin Tidwell, also charged in the murder of Garcia-Munoz, was arrested in the case after being a Top 10 TBI Most Wanted Fugitive and leading police on a chase that ended with a crash on I-65.
• On June 1, 2017, Kevin Tidwell, identified as an MS-13 gang member assaulted a deputized federal officer in Brentwood, Tennessee, while possessing a firearm and attempting to evade arrest, police said. Read the original report here.
• On June 17, 2017, brandished and discharged a firearm in Nashville during the kidnapping and assault of C.R.
• On July 25, 2017, kidnapped and assaulted X.A. in Nashville to prevent X.A. from cooperating with law enforcement.
• On September 24, 2017, police say Luis Miguel Colindres-Varela, 20, murdered Jose Pagada, 34. Police said Colindres-Varela then killed Yeri Hernandez Gabino 29, to prevent him from being a witness in Pagada's murder. Read the original reports here, here and here.
• On September 24, 2017, Jorge Flores, Franklin Hernandez and Luis Colindres lured a person, identified as A.I. to a meeting in Nashville and murdered him by shooting him and burned a car with his body in the trunk, an affidavit alleges.

Those facing charges are:

• Jose Pineda-Caceres, 22, aka “Demente,” of Honduras: RICO conspiracy; conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute controlled substances; murder in aid of racketeering; causing death through the use of a firearm; accessory after the fact; conspiracy to commit murder in aid of racketeering; use, carry, brandish, and discharge of a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence.
• Gerson Serrano-Ramirez, 34, aka “Frijole,” of El Salvador: RICO conspiracy; conspiracy to distribute and possession with the intent to distribute controlled substances; conspiracy to commit murder in aid of racketeering; attempted murder in aid of racketeering; use, carry, brandish and discharge of a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence; kidnapping in aid of racketeering; assault with a dangerous weapon in aid of racketeering.
• Juan Melendez,” aka “Shaggy,” of Lebanon, Tennessee: RICO conspiracy; conspiracy to distribute and possession with the intent to distribute controlled substances; possession with the intent to distribute cocaine and marijuana; possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
• Kevin Tidwell, 28, aka “Miklo,” of Nashville: RICO conspiracy; conspiracy to commit murder in aid of racketeering; murder in aid of racketeering; use, carry, brandish and discharge of a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence; causing death through the use of a firearm; attempted murder in aid of racketeering.
• Carlos Ochoa-Martinez, 31, aka “El Serio,” of Nashville: RICO conspiracy; conspiracy to distribute and possession with the intent to distribute controlled substances; possession with the intent to distribute cocaine; accessory after the fact; conspiracy to commit murder in aid of racketeering; attempted murder in aid of racketeering; use, carry, brandish and discharge of a firearm during an in relation to a crime of violence; felon in possession of a firearm; possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
• Jason Sandoval, 35, aka “Bin Laden,” of Nashville: RICO conspiracy; conspiracy to distribute and possession with the intent to distribute controlled substances; distribution and possession with the intent to distribute cocaine.
• Jorge Flores, 29, aka “Peluche,” of Nashville: RICO conspiracy; conspiracy to distribute and possession with the intent to distribute controlled substances; conspiracy to commit murder in aid of racketeering; attempted murder in aid of racketeering; use, carry, brandish and discharge of a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence; murder in aid of racketeering; causing death through the use of a firearm; felon in possession of a firearm; obstruction of justice; destruction of evidence; possession with the intent to distribute cocaine; possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
• Franklin Hernandez, 22, aka “Happy,” of Honduras: RICO conspiracy; conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute controlled substances; conspiracy to commit murder in aid of racketeering; attempted murder in aid of racketeering; use, carry, brandish, and discharge of a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence; kidnapping in aid of racketeering; assault with a dangerous weapon in aid of racketeering; murder in aid of racketeering; causing death through the use of a firearm; obstruction of justice; destruction of evidence.
• Luis Colindres, 24, aka “Listo,” of Honduras: RICO conspiracy; conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute controlled substances; conspiracy to commit murder in aid of racketeering; murder in aid of racketeering; use, carry, brandish, and discharge of a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence; causing death through the use of a firearm.

Officials said over the course of the entire MS-13 gang investigation, they've charged 20 people overall, nine of whom are included in this indictment.

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