Post by Admin on May 27, 2015 0:27:50 GMT
Posted: May 26, 2015 4:00 PM PDT
Updated: May 26, 2015 4:00 PM PDT
By Caroline Fountain, Digital Journalist
Charlotte, N.C. (WJZY) -- New details revealed in the federal case against alleged MS-13 street gang members.
Last week, the FBI arrested sixteen people reportedly connected with the gang.
On Tuesday, they appeared in court for a bond hearing.
When you go inside the federal courthouse, you'll find a tiny courtroom with just three benches.
All of them were filled with family and friends who came to support the alleged gang members.
Their hope was that their presence in the courtroom may persuade the judge to release their loved ones.
"I need his support. He would be the one going to work, paying all the bills. He would take care of my daughter when I was in school after he got off work. Now it's hard for me to go to my college classes. I need to get a baby-sitter and bring in extra income. It's hard," said Jasmine, the fiancée of one of the alleged gang members.
Parents, wives, and children filled the courtroom. One mother blew a kiss to her son. A fiancée was unable to hold back tears.
"He is not in a gang. He is not a gang member like they say he is. He was probably seen going out to eat with some of them and decided to add his name," said Jasmine.
The prosecutor revealed in court that the thirty-seven people indicted are part of a younger and more violent form of the street gang seeking to re-establish MS-13 in Charlotte.
"Most of the people I've seen in the indictment are high school friends. Friends that he didn't associate with like that. They wanted to add his name for some reason. He has nothing to be scared of because he knows he didn't do anything. I put everything in god's hands and I know he will be out because he is not guilty," said Jasmine.
Even one of the alleged gang member's employer was in court today - taking the stand.
At the end of the day, none of the alleged gang members made bond.
We're waiting to hear back from the Department of Justice as to the next step in the process.
There are still five people listed on the indictment who have not been arrested according to the DOJ. One of them is listed as being from Kannapolis.