December 2, 1977 - Francisco Javier Roman-Bardales
Roman-Bardales operated at the senior leadership level of MS-13 across three countries, allegedly coordinating violence, overseeing military-style training infrastructure, and brokering alliances with Mexican drug cartels that extended the gang's criminal reach well beyond its Central American origins. The federal indictment against him reflects the scale of the enterprise: charges spanning narcoterrorism, racketeering, and human smuggling point to an organization functioning with the complexity of a transnational criminal network rather than a street gang. His 2025 capture, following years as a fugitive and a placement on the FBI's Ten Most Wanted list, marked the culmination of sustained cross-border law enforcement coordination.
From Wikipedia
Francisco Javier Roman-Bardales (born December 2, 1977), also known as "Veterano de Tribus", is a Salvadoran former fugitive and an alleged senior leader of MS-13 responsible for criminal activities of the gang in the United States, Mexico, and El Salvador.
Criminal history
In December 2020, Roman-Bardales was indicted along with 26 other high-ranking MS-13 leaders by the Eastern District of New York. He faces serious charges, including conspiracy to provide and conceal material support to terrorists, narcoterrorism conspiracy, racketeering conspiracy, and alien smuggling conspiracy.
As part of MS-13's leadership, he is alleged to have been involved in directing acts of violence and murder, establishing military-style training camps, and obtaining military-grade weapons. The organization is also accused of manipulating the electoral process in El Salvador and negotiating with the Salvadoran government for benefits and concessions.
He is also believed to have played a role in MS-13's expansion into Mexico, forging alliances with Mexican drug cartels and engaging in various criminal activities, including narcotics trafficking, human smuggling, extortion, and arms trafficking.
In September 2022, a federal arrest warrant was issued for Roman-Bardales in the United States on narcoterrorism and human smuggling charges. On February 21, 2025, he was placed on the FBI's Ten Most Wanted Fugitives list, replacing Arnoldo Jimenez.
On March 17, 2025, Roman-Bardales was apprehended in Teocelo, Veracruz, Mexico. The arrest was the result of a coordinated effort by both U.S. and Mexican authorities, who had been surveilling Roman-Bardales in the days leading up to his arrest. He was transported to Mexico City before being handed over to U.S. authorities and brought to the United States to face charges. He was arraigned in New York City on March 19, 2025.
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