Ms-13 shot caller wanted for 11 murders nabbed in dramatic long island raid — SWAT vehicle

LONG ISLAND, N.Y. — A high-ranking leader of the violent MS-13 gang, who had been a fugitive for nearly four years, was arrested Tuesday night in New York for his alleged role in a brutal conspiracy tied to 11 murders across Nevada and California.

Joel Vargas-Escobar, known by the alias “Momia,” was apprehended in Long Island after being indicted by a federal grand jury in the District of Nevada. He faces charges of racketeering conspiracy, two counts of murder in aid of racketeering, and multiple firearms violations, according to the Department of Justice.

Vargas-Escobar, a previously deported Salvadoran national, had illegally re-entered the United States after being removed in 2018. Prosecutors say he led the Parkview clique of MS-13 in Las Vegas and personally ordered at least two of the 11 murders listed in the indictment. Many of the victims, officials allege, were kidnapped and executed in remote desert and mountain locations.

“The American people are safer following the arrest of yet another MS-13 leader,” said Attorney General Pamela Bondi. “This terrorist entered our country illegally and is accused of orchestrating 11 murders.”

The operation to capture Vargas-Escobar was spearheaded by the FBI’s Criminal Investigative Division and Joint Task Force Vulcan (JTFV), with assistance from multiple field offices in New York, Los Angeles, and Las Vegas. The arrest marks a major success in JTFV’s ongoing mission to dismantle the notorious transnational gang, also known as La Mara Salvatrucha.

MS-13, composed largely of individuals from Central America, is believed to have more than 10,000 active members in the U.S. alone. The gang is known for its use of extreme violence, including murder, as well as drug trafficking, extortion, and armed robberies.

Court documents describe Vargas-Escobar and his co-defendants as top-tier leaders who helped direct gang operations from Las Vegas and California. The Parkview clique is accused of a year-long murder spree, targeting victims for torture and execution as part of the gang’s internal code of intimidation and control.

Phil Stilton Latest posts

Phil Stilton is the Editor and Publisher of Shore News Network, an independent digital newsroom providing original reporting on New Jersey, national news, government, public policy, public safety, courts, and community affairs.

As founder of the publication, Stilton leads editorial strategy, investigative reporting, and daily newsroom operations while overseeing coverage that reaches millions of readers annually.

With extensive experience covering municipal government, county government, state legislatures, elections, law enforcement, emergency management, and public records, Stilton specializes in translating complex government actions into clear, factual reporting. His work frequently relies on primary source documents, including court filings, legislation, public meeting records, election finance disclosures, government databases, police reports, and Freedom of Information and Open Public Records Act (OPRA) requests. He has reported extensively on local government accountability, taxpayer spending, campaign finance, public corruption investigations, infrastructure, public safety, and the policies affecting New Jersey residents.

Under Stilton's editorial leadership, Shore News Network has grown into one of New Jersey's largest independent digital news organizations, publishing thousands of original news articles each year while providing breaking news coverage, investigative reporting, and analysis across state and local government. The publication's reporting is routinely sourced from official government agencies, public officials, court records, and firsthand documentation, with a commitment to transparency, attribution, corrections when warranted, and clearly distinguishing factual reporting from opinion.

Stilton's journalism follows established newsroom standards emphasizing accuracy, verification, fairness, and accountability. Every effort is made to verify information through official records and multiple reliable sources before publication. His reporting is intended to provide readers with timely, well-documented information that helps them understand the issues affecting their communities, while maintaining editorial independence from political parties, government agencies, advocacy organizations, and commercial interests.

Readers can submit story tips, corrections, public records, or media inquiries through the official Shore News Network website or its verified social media channels. Shore News Network welcomes corrections and updates when new information becomes available as part of its ongoing commitment to accurate and transparent journalism.