An MS-13 member listed on El Salvador's 100 most wanted list was recently sentenced to two years in prison after being arrested in Alabama last year.
Juan Carlos Portillo, 30, a foreign fugitive in the United States illegally, is currently wanted in El Salvador and has a total of six arrest warrants for aggravated kidnapping, attempted aggravated homicide, illicit association, aggravated extortion, terrorist organization, deprivation of liberty and aggravated homicide. Portillo has been a subject of interest for his crimes and gang affiliation in El Salvador since May 5, 2011.
Portillo was arrested in Chelsea in August 2023. He was charged with illegal re-entry into the United States. On Friday, U.S. District Court Judge Anna Manasco sentenced Portillo to the maximum possible sentence of 24 months.
Related: MS13 member on El Salvador's most wanted list arrested in Chelsea after being deported last year
The Homeland Security Investigations Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) alleges that Portillo is the leader of one of the most violent cliques of the MS-13 gang in El Salvador. The International Criminal Police Organization (INTERPOL) has placed a Red Notice on Portillo, a request to law enforcement worldwide to locate and provisionally arrest a person pending extradition, not an international arrest warrant.
On December 7, 2022, the U.S. Border Patrol arrested Portillo near Hidalgo, Texas, and issued him an expedited removal order. An ERO officer removed Portillo to El Salvador shortly after.
However, at an unknown time, Portillo illegally reentered the United States without being admitted or paroled by an immigration officer.
On July 5, 2023, ERO New Orleans' Birmingham suboffice received information from ERO San Salvador under the Security Alliance for Fugitive Enforcement initiative that Portillo was residing with his sister in Columbiana, Alabama. He was arrested shortly after that.
To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email craig.monger@1819news.com.
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