PRESS RELEASE 047
FORTY EXTORTIONISTS FROM MARA SALVATRUCHA GANG ARRESTED
Guatemala, July 08, 2012. Today, in an unprecedented operation in terms of size and number of arrests, the authorities arrested 40 alleged members of the Mara Salvatrucha gang who are suspected of carrying out criminal activities with a high social impact in the Canalitos district (Zone 24, Guatemala City).
Following months of investigation, 48 premises were searched today in a joint operation between the Ministry of the Interior, the National Civil Police (PNC), the Public Prosecutor's Office (MP) and the International Commission against Impunity in Guatemala (CICIG).
The 40 persons are accused of murder, attempted murder, unlawful association and obstructing traffic to commit extortion. Among the group, most of who form part of the same family, are six minors.
This criminal group was led by Nixon Bantes González, who is currently serving a prison sentence at the Boquerón Prison in the town of Cuilapa, department of Santa Rosa. It was from here where he planned the criminal operations and relied upon different family members to commit extortion-related crimes.
This group, Pigüis Locos Salvatrucha, was comprised of leaders, deputy leaders, hired murderers and paros—cohorts who would intimidate people or plan the logistical side of the criminal operations. The group was made up 34 adults (34 men and 4 women) and 6 minors (5 men and 1 woman). The arrested parties are:
1. Andy Leonel Bantes González
2. Víctor Cristino Palencia Urías
3. Ricky Javier Villagrán
4. El culito (menor)
5. German Antonio Gramajo Solórzano
6. Carlos Iván Bantes Pérez
7. Elvys Rolando Pérez Gutiérrez
8. Carlos Josúe Andrade
9. Robin Yo Ams
10. Rudy René Cho Barán
11. Gerbert Ricardo López Ortíz
12. Oto Adelqui Bantes Álvarez
13. Víctor Obdulio López Rodríguez
14. Sam Emanuel Hernández Rodríguez
15. Yonny de Jesús
16. Rogelio Bantes Bantes
17. Walter Estiven Pérez Mijangos
18. Héctor Noé Maldonado Cheguén
19. Anthony Estiven Luna Álvarez
20. Cristian Luna Rodríguez
21. Erick Omar Rosales Quiñónez
22. Edie Homero Ibañez Luna
23. Bryan Eduardo Polio Rodríguez
24.Víctor Manuel Mijangos Rosales
25. Luis de Jesús Bantes Montenegro
26. Víctor Bantes Alvarez
27. Juan Alberto Álvarez Hernández
28. Rudy Antonio Cali Samayoa
29. Carlos Rolando Boror García
30. Roque Danilo Álvarez Dávila
31. Gladis Marleny Bantes Pérez
32. Mayra Haydee Bantes González
33. Blanca Marisol Bantes González
34. Sergio Alejandro Pivaral Tunes
35. Carlos Oswaldo Chután Sazo
36. Feliciano de Jesús Bantes Álvarez
37. María Cristobalina Bantes Álvarez
38. Jorge Alejandro Samayoa Hernández
39. Roque Alvarez Muñoz
40. Julián Rodríguez Quib