A federal grand jury in Puerto Rico has indicted 23 members of the criminal organization La Familia Nunca Muere (LFNM) on charges including racketeering, murder, drug trafficking, and firearms violations, as part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative. The indictment, returned on May 12, 2026, targets an enterprise accused of using extreme violence to maintain control and further its illicit operations across various municipalities.
U.S. Attorney Muldrow emphasized the significance of the RICO charges, saying, “This criminal Enterprise used gun violence and murder as mere business tools to maintain power and control. The filing of RICO charges gives us the capacity to systematically dismantle the violent gangs that fuel bloodshed and keep families living in fear.” He added that these charges allow prosecutors to target the entire criminal organization, from leadership to street-level participants, revealing patterns of coordinated crime.
The transnational criminal organization, LFNM, is comprised of Las FARC, Cantera Nueva Generación (CNG), and other gangs operating in San Juan, Bayamón, Comerío, Trujillo Alto, and Carolina. Since 2019, the enterprise allegedly distributed heroin, crack, cocaine, marijuana, fentanyl, Oxycodone, and Alprazolam in public housing projects such as Villa Kennedy, Fray Bartolomé de Las Casas, El Mirador de las Casas, and Las Margaritas, among other areas.
Violence was a core component of LFNM's strategy. According to the indictment, acts of violence served to promote the enterprise's prestige, protect members from law enforcement and rivals, and safeguard their drug operations. DEA Caribbean Division Special Agent in Charge Michael Mayer said, “This investigation targeted individuals who believed they could use murder and intimidation to strengthen their criminal organization and spread fear throughout our communities.”
A specific incident detailed in the indictment involves leaders Emmanuel Pacheco-Marín and Edison Merced-Olivera, who, on October 6, 2025, allegedly ordered retaliation for the murder of Las FARC leader Héctor Alcántara-Domínguez, known as "Mariachi." This directive led to at least 14 enterprise members planning, kidnapping, torturing, executing, and disposing of five individuals. These 14 defendants face up to life in prison and are eligible for the death penalty if convicted of murder in aid of racketeering.
The HSTF, established by Executive Order 14159, "Protecting the American People Against Invasion," is a multi-agency partnership dedicated to dismantling criminal cartels and transnational criminal organizations. FBI Special Agent in Charge Carlos R. Goris affirmed, “The FBI will continue working aggressively alongside our federal and state partners to identify, investigate, and dismantle violent criminal organizations that threaten our communities.” The prosecution aims to restore safety to communities affected by this violence.