LAKE CHARLES, LA — A Guatemalan citizen suspected of being an MS-13 gang member remains in federal custody after being arrested July 20 by U.S. Border Patrol (USBP) agents assigned to the Lake Charles Station.
The agents assisted the Lake Charles Police Department in conducting a traffic stop on Interstate-10 near Lake Charles, LA on July 20. During the stop, they discovered that all five occupants of the vehicle were illegal aliens with one 34-year-old male, Jose Escobar-Monterroso, being identified as a member of the notorious Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13) gang.
Monterroso is currently in federal custody, pending an immigration hearing for violation of 8 USC 1325 illegal entry into the United States. The driver of the vehicle is facing charges in federal court for illegal re-entry after deportation. The other three illegal aliens were released in Louisiana on their own recognizance, pending asylum court cases.
“The MS-13 gang problem in our country is serious, and I am proud of both the Lake Charles Police Department and our Border Patrol agents, who were very perceptive in identifying, then arresting this reprehensible gang member before any of our citizens were harmed,” said New Orleans Sector Chief Patrol Agent Gregory Bovino.
The USBP Lake Charles Station is part of the USBP-New Orleans Sector, located in the historic Custom House, located on Canal Street in New Orleans, and is responsible for patrolling areas between the ports of entry in Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and the Florida Panhandle. Individuals can report suspicious activity by calling (504) 376-2800.