WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. Department of Justice announced Monday that a reward of up to $5 million is being offered for information leading to the arrest or conviction of Yulan Andony Archaga Carías, a top leader of the violent criminal enterprise MS-13 and one of the FBI’s 10 Most Wanted Fugitives.
Archaga Carías, 43, also known as “Alexander Mendoza” and “Porky,” is considered the highest-ranking member of MS-13 operating in Honduras. He was previously charged in a 2021 superseding indictment filed in the Southern District of New York with racketeering, drug trafficking, and firearms offenses.
He is listed not only on the FBI’s Most Wanted list, but also on the DEA’s and ICE Homeland Security Investigations’ Most Wanted Fugitives lists. U.S. authorities stress that Archaga Carías is a key figure in a transnational organization now designated as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO).
“This terrorist leader can no longer be allowed to live free as MS-13’s evil devastates communities in America and throughout the western hemisphere,” said Attorney General Pamela Bondi. “If you can contribute information leading to his arrest – come forward now.”
Fugitive status and international efforts
The reward, issued by the Department of State’s Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs under the Transnational Organized Crime Rewards Program (TOCRP), applies to tips received in any country. U.S. officials urge the public to report information through the FBI’s dedicated tip lines or U.S. embassies abroad.
Authorities also revealed that multiple MS-13 leaders were charged in the same indictment as Archaga Carías. One co-defendant, David Campbell, also known as “Viejo Dan” and “Don David,” is in U.S. custody. Juan Carlos Portillo Santos, or “Juancy,” is serving a sentence in Honduras. Two others, Victor Eduardo Morales Zelaya (“Cuervo”) and Jorge Alberto Velasquez Paz (“Chacarron”), remain at large.
The case is being overseen by U.S. District Judge Gregory H. Woods in the Southern District of New York.
Key Points
- Yulan Archaga Carías, a top MS-13 leader, is wanted for terrorism, drug, and firearms charges.
- The U.S. government is offering up to $5 million for information leading to his arrest or conviction.
- Multiple other MS-13 leaders are named in the same indictment, with some still at large.
The FBI, DEA, and ICE HSI continue to prioritize dismantling MS-13’s global network.
Authorities emphasized that only tips submitted through official U.S. channels are eligible for the reward.