Attorney General Pam Bondi has revealed new details about the criminal history of Henrry Josue Villatoro Santos, the alleged MS-13 leader recently arrested in Virginia. According to Bondi, the gang figure was first recruited into MS-13 while still in middle school, highlighting the group’s aggressive strategy of targeting minors for early indoctrination.
Villatoro Santos, a 24-year-old Salvadoran national, was taken into custody during a multi-agency raid in Dale City, Virginia. Authorities described him as a top-ranking East Coast leader of the transnational gang, responsible for overseeing operations involving drug trafficking, weapons, and violent enforcement tactics.
Speaking at a press briefing, Bondi called the arrest a major step forward in the fight against organized criminal networks, especially those that prey on vulnerable youth. She stated that Villatoro Santos had been deeply embedded in MS-13 for more than a decade, having risen through the ranks since being recruited as a young teenager.
Bondi emphasized that MS-13’s pattern of grooming children in schools and low-income neighborhoods has made the gang especially difficult to combat. She said the organization exploits poverty and instability to lure recruits into a life of violence, often beginning with minor tasks that evolve into full participation in criminal activity.
During the operation that led to his arrest, authorities seized firearms, suppressors, and other illegal items. Villatoro Santos is now facing multiple federal charges, including illegal possession of firearms and conspiracy in connection with gang activity. Immigration officials confirmed that he was living in the United States without legal status.
The investigation remains active as law enforcement continues to track MS-13 associates connected to his network. Bondi reaffirmed that dismantling the gang’s leadership structure remains a top priority, and warned that early recruitment of minors will remain a central focus in prevention efforts.