W/B HIDTA-Supported Northern Virginia Gang Initiative Investigation Results in Conviction of Six Violent Transnational Gang Members

According to a May 2024 press release from the U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia, six members of “18th Street,” a violent international street gang, were found guilty in U.S. District Court on charges that included murder, kidnapping, and racketeering. The organization was found to have engaged in a variety of criminal activities in the W/B HIDTA region, including murder, kidnapping, assault, robbery, witness intimidation, and firearms and narcotics trafficking to fuel its violent operations. The multi-agency investigation includes the FBI Washington Field Office, Department of Homeland Security ‘s Immigration and Customs Enforcement–Enforcement Removal Operations, U.S. Marshal’s Service, the Metropolitan Police Department, and the Montgomery County (MD) Police Department. Both the District of Columbia’s Department of Forensic Sciences, and the Montgomery County State’s Attorney’s Office also provided assistance.