DOJ drops charges against top MS-13 gang leader Henrry Villatoro Santos

In the United States, the Justice Department announced its intention to drop criminal charges against Henrry Villatoro Santos, a Virginia man accused of being the East Coast leader of the notorious MS-13 gang. The announcement follows a press conference held by Attorney General Pam Bondi on March 27, 2025, where she labeled Villatoro Santos as one of MS-13's top members responsible for violent crimes. A court filing on April 8, 2025, expressed the desire to dismiss the criminal complaint against him, suggesting a shift to deportation instead of prosecution. Villatoro Santos had been previously charged with unlawful possession of a firearm, with allegations of his association to MS-13 mentioned only briefly in the charging documents. The shift from prosecution to deportation raised eyebrows among legal experts and Villatoro Santos' defense team, who argued that dropping the case without a conviction would break from historical precedent and could violate due process rights. His attorneys warned that if deported, he could face severe conditions in a Salvadoran prison without a proper legal avenue to contest his removal. Despite the lack of a criminal conviction, the Justice Department is likely to initiate deportation proceedings, further complicating the case. This unusual move has been attributed to the government's efforts to deal with individuals associated with violent gangs, but some critics question the legality and morality of deporting an individual without a conviction, particularly given the current legal challenges surrounding immigration and gang affiliation. The case has garnered significant public attention due to the high-profile nature of the allegations and the statements made by Bondi and Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin. Given the media scrutiny and the serious implications of the charges, Villatoro Santos' legal team has filed motions to delay the dismissal of his case, fearing potential deportation without due process. They have argued that the actions taken against him reflect a broader trend of the government inaccurately labeling individuals as gang members and forcibly removing them without proper legal protections. A hearing is scheduled for April 15, 2025, to address these disputes.