There has been a lot of talk about the MS-13 gang lately, especially after President Trump’s State of the Union speech, in which two sets of parents had the story of their daughters’ murders by members of MS-13 described.
Some in the media claim that MS-13 is not a big problem and that only people who watch Fox News even know about MS-13.
I know MS-13 better than most of you, because for 16 days in last half of September 2006, I hauled my you-know-what down to the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia and sat in the jury box (juror number 4) listening to testimony in the murder trial of Wilfredo Montoya Baires (do an internet search and find the Washington Post story dated September 30, 2006).
Baires murdered another MS-13 gang member, first by shooting him and then by cutting his throat with a knife.
I had a chance to hold the 9mm pistol that was used in the murder.
I had a chance to hold the knife that was used in the murder.
I saw the pictures.
I heard what MS-13 does to those who they (falsely in this particular case) accuse of being a “snitch” (cooperating with Fairfax County police).
I know the gang hand signals that MS-13 uses.
I know how they are organized.
I know how they operate.
I know how they meet (they call it “going to Mass” – in Spanish).
I know how they recruit young illegal aliens into their gang.
I know how they fund themselves.
I heard the testimony of a teenage sister as she described how her teenage brother was murdered as they were both walking home from the movie theater in the middle of the afternoon, just because somebody in MS-13 thought her brother might be a member of the rival 18 street gang (he wasn’t).
I heard the testimony of how a young boy had his finger cut off for some supposed “violation” of MS-13 “rules”.
I wrote 104 numbered and dated pages of notes during that trial which I still have in case anybody doubts what I’m saying is accurate or even true.
I made sure I had a good night of rest so that I could pay close attention to what was said and what was shown. After all, a man’s life is in your and 15 other people’s hands (12 regular, 4 alternates, in case somebody gets sick).
If you ever hear your name and the words Lume Verde used in the same sentence, let’s just say it’s not good for your life expectancy.
I can tell you that what President Trump is doing to rid the United States of MS-13 is right on target.
Anybody who says otherwise, unless they have first-hand experience, probably does not know what they are talking about.
