Federal and local law enforcement in New York have arrested a 21-year-old MS-13 gang member from El Salvador on multiple attempted murder charges in a joint operation targeting violent transnational criminal organizations.
Elias Wilfredo Serrano Bonilla was taken into custody on August 8 during a coordinated enforcement action involving U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s New York City field office, the Nassau County Police Department, and the FBI. According to officials, Serrano Bonilla entered the United States illegally prior to 2016 and has a criminal history that includes a 2020 arrest for gang-related assaults in New York.
Authorities allege Serrano Bonilla and two other MS-13 members were involved in a series of violent attacks in Nassau County. The charges against Serrano Bonilla include eight counts of attempted murder, multiple counts of assault with a deadly weapon, first-degree gang assault, armed robbery, and related conspiracy and weapons offenses. Investigators say the incidents were part of coordinated gang activity intended to target rivals and maintain control of certain territories.
ICE confirmed it has lodged immigration detainers on all three suspects, ensuring they will be transferred to federal custody for removal proceedings once their local criminal charges are resolved. Officials emphasized that the cooperation between federal and local agencies is critical in addressing the threat posed by transnational gangs operating within U.S. communities.
“This case is another example of the ongoing danger posed by violent MS-13 gang members,” the agency stated. “Working alongside our law enforcement partners, we will continue to identify, arrest, and remove criminal aliens who commit violent acts in our communities.”
The arrests were part of a larger targeted enforcement effort in the New York City area aimed at disrupting gang networks and removing individuals in the country unlawfully who have been convicted of, or are charged with, serious crimes.
More information on the case and the charges against Serrano Bonilla can be found in ICE’s official announcement.
