Alleged MS-13 leader asks judge for delay after DOJ moves to dismiss case

A Salvadoran man, Henrry Josue Villatoro Santos, who has been accused by U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi of being a top leader of the notorious MS-13 gang, is currently facing a challenging legal battle. Despite the Justice Department’s efforts to dismiss his criminal case and deport him back to El Salvador, Villatoro Santos is pleading with a judge to delay the dismissal.

Villatoro Santos was apprehended at a residence in Virginia during a well-publicized early-morning operation. Following his arrest on an immigration administrative warrant, a search of his room uncovered weapons and evidence linking him to MS-13, as per a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement affidavit. Attorney General Bondi, alongside FBI Director Kash Patel, was present during the raid and later confirmed that Villatoro Santos was a key MS-13 figure, described as the gang’s East Coast leader.

Charged with illegal firearm possession, Villatoro Santos was detained pending trial. However, the government surprisingly filed a motion seeking to dismiss the case without providing detailed reasoning. Bondi stated that Villatoro Santos, labeled as a terrorist, would undergo the deportation process.

In response, Villatoro Santos’s attorney, Muhammad Elsayed, expressed concerns about his client’s potential immediate deportation to El Salvador’s CECOT prison without due process. Elsayed urged the court to postpone the dismissal for two weeks to allow Villatoro Santos to seek immigration counsel and protect his rights.

This unusual turn of events highlights the complexities of Villatoro Santos’s legal predicament and the need for a fair and just resolution. As the case unfolds, it underscores the importance of upholding due process and ensuring that all individuals, regardless of their alleged affiliations, are granted a fair trial and legal representation.