News-Record.com

Friday's lead editorial.

Federal authorities this week executed a crackdown on a dangerous criminal gang operating in North Carolina.

That's the good news. The bad news is that this gang, MS-13, was — or is — active in Greensboro.

Police linked Alejandro Enrique Ramirez Umana with the gang after his arrest in Charlotte in December. He was charged with two murders at a Greensboro restaurant Dec. 8.

He was one of 26 alleged MS-13 members named in federal indictments this week on racketeering charges. The defendants conspired to operate as a gang that, over the past five years, committed four murders and other violent crimes, distributed narcotics and carried out acts of extortion, intimidation and obstruction of justice, federal authorities said.

The FBI and other federal agencies, aided by state and local authorities, including the Greensboro Police Department, carried out a long-term investigation, the U.S. Department of Justice said.

The coordinated effort and application of federal racketeering laws were needed to counter this nefarious criminal organization, which has its origins in El Salvador's guerrilla wars of the 1980s. An FBI assessment calls MS-13 a "growing, mobile street gang" with up to 10,000 members in 42 states. It's most active in the West and Northeast, "but recently we've seen an influx of MS-13 members into the Southeast, causing an increase in violent crimes there.

"They often target middle and high school students for recruitment" and also grow "by absorbing smaller gangs," the FBI reports.

Besides El Salvador, members' nations of origin include Mexico and other Central American countries. Some are U.S. citizens, some not. Deporting those who are here illegally may reunite them with gang members in their home countries. If they can be convicted of federal crimes, it might be better if they serve long prison terms here, despite the expense.

Greensboro police Chief Tim Bellamy says MS-13 uses cities like Greensboro to "chill out and also to recruit. And they commit crimes in Greensboro while they're here."

Allegedly including murder, which doesn't sound much like chilling out.

Authorities have to keep the heat on these dangerous and aggressive criminals, infiltrate their organizations, find informants and back up arrests and indictments with the strongest possible prosecution. MS-13 poses a threat to peace and safety in Greensboro and to susceptible young people who might be lured into membership.

It's good news if MS-13 has suffered a setback, but Greensboro can't rest easy until it's rid of this gang and any others operating here.