Top MS-13 Fugitive, Accomplice Busted in Omaha by HSI
A significant victory against transnational gang violence was achieved on July 9, 2025, when U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) apprehended a high-ranking member of the notoriously violent MS-13 gang. The Salvadoran national, who was among El Salvador’s top 100 most wanted fugitives, was arrested in the Omaha area, where he and an associate had been residing illegally.
The lead fugitive is wanted in El Salvador for a litany of heinous crimes, including the aggravated homicide of five victims, attempted aggravated homicide, deprivation of liberty, and affiliation with a terrorist organization. His apprehension marks a critical blow to the gang’s operations and a win for public safety.
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Alongside the high-ranking gang member, authorities also arrested his associate, Rene Saul Escobar Ochoa, 30. Escobar Ochoa is also a criminal alien, a known MS-13 gang member, and a foreign terrorist wanted in El Salvador. He is accused of orchestrating various crimes, including multiple homicides, extortion, imprisonment, and drug trafficking.
Both individuals were arrested without incident in a targeted enforcement action, putting an end to their presence in the Omaha community, where they posed a severe threat.
“These illegal aliens didn’t just sneak into our country; they brought with them a legacy of violence, terror and death,” said HSI Kansas City Special Agent in Charge Mark Zito, whose office oversees Omaha. “They thought they could hide in America’s heartland, but they were sadly mistaken. Not on our watch.”
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ICE acting Director Todd M. Lyons underscored the importance of public cooperation during such operations. “When ICE agents move in to make an arrest, it is extremely important that the public not interfere,” Lyons stated. “The misinformation, and sometimes blatant lies, being spread around the country could result in someone stepping into a federal operation and suddenly finding themselves face-to-face with a killer who has nothing to lose.”
The ongoing investigation is a collaborative effort between HSI, ICE’s Enforcement Removal Operations (ERO), and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).
“Our ICE officers and agents are protecting your neighborhoods, even when you don’t know the threat is there, so either support them or get out of the way,” Lyons concluded, emphasizing the dedication of law enforcement to community safety.
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