Federal authorities are offering a reward of up to $5 million for information leading to the arrest of what they say is the highest-ranking member of MS-13, Yulan Andony Archaga Carías. The Justice Department announced this offer on April 21, 2021.
Archaga Carías, 43, is considered the top target in the Trump Administration’s efforts to dismantle the violent street gang, the department said. He is known by several aliases, including Alexander Mendoza and “Porky,” and was charged in 2021 for a series of crimes, including the murder of competitors in Honduras, money laundering, and coordinating multi-ton cocaine shipments into the United States.
The Justice Department considers him the highest-ranking member of the gang. If convicted, Archaga Carías could face a mandatory minimum sentence of 40 years in prison, or even life in prison, as there is no parole in the federal system.
Attorney General Pam Bondi commented, “This terrorist leader can no longer be allowed to live free as MS-13’s evil devastates communities in America and throughout the western hemisphere. If you can contribute information leading to his arrest – come forward now.”
The Justice Department emphasized that only tips provided directly to the U.S. government would qualify for the reward. Those with information can contact local FBI, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) offices. International tips can be sent to the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate. Arrests and convictions in any country are eligible for the reward.
The reward is being offered under the Department of State’s Transnational Organized Crime Rewards Program.
F. Cartwright Weiland, a senior official from the Department of State’s Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs, stated, “President Trump has been very clear — we will not allow criminal groups and their members like Porky to threaten Americans.”
MS-13’s terrorist designation by the Department of State in February 2020 marked a shift in the approach to combating the gang. The group, originally founded by Salvadoran immigrants in Los Angeles in the 1980s, grew rapidly in Central America following deportations. MS-13 is linked to numerous crimes, including high-profile killings, kidnappings, and drug trafficking in the U.S.
Acting Administrator of the DEA, Derek Maltz, stated, “Archaga Carías isn’t just a fugitive — he’s a foreign terrorist waging war on innocent Americans through murder, trafficking, and terror. Under this Administration, we will dismantle MS-13 piece by piece— and anyone protecting him will fall with him. A $5 million reward is on the table. Turn him in. End this threat.”
The FBI has also prioritized dismantling MS-13. FBI Director Kash Patel declared in the April 21 announcement that “we won’t stop until that mission is complete.”
Charges against Archaga Carías stem from a 2021 indictment in New York State. The charges allege he and others coordinated the supply of illicit drugs and firearms to protect cocaine shipments from Honduras to the U.S. Archaga Carías allegedly hired MS-13 members as hitmen to carry out murders for drug trafficking organizations (DTOs) in exchange for payment.
The Justice Department also revealed that Archaga Carías and other MS-13 members used businesses to launder drug money and supplied firearms, including machine guns, from El Salvador, Nicaragua, and other countries. Archaga Carías ordered the killings of rival gang members and drug competitors in Honduras.
David Campbell, a key player in the scheme, is in custody. Prosecutors said he coordinated violent retaliations and provided drugs and firearms for Archaga Carías. However, two individuals linked to the case, Morales Zelaya and Velasquez Paz, remain at large. Morales Zelaya, a national leader in MS-13, allegedly coordinated the gang’s violent acts and drug trafficking operations.
Matthew Podolsky, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York, said, “This office, working closely with our law enforcement partners, will continue to investigate, prosecute and track down MS-13’s leadership, no matter where in the world they may be hiding.”
Under the Trump administration, aggressive efforts have led to the extradition of MS-13 members like Francisco Javier Román-Bardales, while controversies, such as the deportation of Kilmar Abrego Garcia, have sparked legal battles and public debate. Despite this, the Administration’s stance remains firm on targeting gang members and criminal organizations like MS-13.
