Eight individuals indicted for their involvement in the violent 18th Street Gang, which allegedly controlled a Queens street.
Federal prosecutors in Brooklyn announced on Monday the indictment of eight individuals affiliated with the notorious 18th Street Gang, a violent transnational organization with origins in Los Angeles. This group, known as the “54 Tiny Locos” clique, has garnered attention as a rival to MS-13 and operates across the United States, Mexico, and Central America. The charges against the accused include racketeering, assault, and various other offenses.
Among the indicted is Felix Bonilla Ramos, aged 36, identified as the “shot caller” for the gang’s Queens faction. Prosecutors allege that Bonilla Ramos has led criminal activities dating back to at least 2017, exerting control over a commercial corridor along Roosevelt Avenue in Jackson Heights. The gang reportedly funded their operations through the counterfeiting of currency and official documents, including driver’s licenses and social security cards.
During a press conference, U.S. Attorney Joseph Nocella emphasized the significance of this law enforcement action, declaring that the gang’s days of violent dominance are over. He asserted that Roosevelt Avenue is a community space and not a gang’s territory, aiming to redefine the perception of the vibrant neighborhood as one where families live, work, and educate their children.
The suspects have been linked to three severe assaults occurring from December 2021 to June 2024 and are believed to have engaged in drug trafficking as well as extorting local businesses, including counterfeiters and illicit enterprises. According to prosecutors, the gang’s operations were so bold that one member, Marco “Matute” Vidal Menendez, kept an altered photo depicting several gang members showcasing hand signs in front of a superimposed social security card.
The indictments detail numerous violent encounters, including a specific incident on New Year’s Eve 2021, when Bonilla Ramos and accomplices allegedly confronted and severely assaulted an individual outside a bar in Queens. Another attack on January 15, 2022, involved members dragging a man into an alley, stabbing him, and leaving him with serious injuries. The gang is also implicated in an additional 13 assaults, which include two shootings, some of which have previously resulted in state court charges.
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz reiterated the commitment to prosecuting gang-related crimes, declaring that no one holds claim over the streets of New York or Queens County. Of the eight accused, seven were due to face arraignment in Brooklyn Federal Court the same afternoon, while the remaining suspect was scheduled for arraignment the following day.
This significant legal development underscores ongoing efforts to dismantle organized crime networks and ensure community safety in an environment marked by increasing concerns over gang violence.
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