Ecuadorian Drug Gang Leader Indicted in New York as Fugitive

Under President Donald J. Trump, the United States took a hardline stance against violent criminals and drug traffickers, relentlessly pursuing justice and protecting American communities from the devastating impacts of illegal drugs and gang violence. But now, under the Biden administration, the Department of Justice (DOJ) appears unable or unwilling to adequately address the threat posed by one of the most dangerous criminal masterminds in South America—José Adolfo Macías Villamar, also known as Fito.

This notorious gang leader from Ecuador, who heads the infamous Los Choneros gang, has built a criminal empire rooted in cocaine trafficking, extortion, and brutal violence. The Biden administration’s weak border policies and soft stance on crime have only emboldened criminals like Fito to continue their ruthless operations, bringing chaos and danger closer to American communities.

The DOJ recently issued an 11-page indictment through the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York, painting a harrowing portrait of Macías Villamar’s brutal criminal network. The charges detail international cocaine distribution, gun use in drug trafficking, and violent smuggling operations. Yet, despite these damning accusations, Fito remains at large, taking advantage of the Biden administration’s failure to secure the border and combat transnational crime.

U.S. Attorney John Durham pulled no punches in describing the sheer violence and depravity of the Los Choneros gang. “These sicarios regularly used military-grade weapons like machine guns, AK-47s, and grenades to perpetrate violence, including murder, torture, and kidnapping to further the goals of the organization,” Durham said. Yet, while the DOJ issues press releases and makes empty promises, the real-world results are sorely lacking.

What is even more troubling is that Los Choneros has close ties to powerful Mexican drug cartels, creating a criminal pipeline from South America to the United States. Fito and his gang are responsible for funneling vast quantities of cocaine into American communities, leaving families shattered and neighborhoods overwhelmed by drug violence. These cartels use the porous U.S.-Mexico border, weakened by Biden’s policies, to smuggle deadly drugs that devastate lives across the nation.

If President Trump were still in office, this crisis would have been handled decisively. Trump’s focus on strengthening the border, empowering law enforcement, and pursuing criminal kingpins with relentless determination would have sent a clear message to drug lords like Fito: America will not tolerate your brutality and lawlessness.

During Trump’s presidency, law enforcement agencies were empowered to target and dismantle dangerous gangs like Los Choneros. By contrast, the Biden administration’s soft-on-crime approach has allowed international criminal organizations to thrive, posing an ever-growing threat to the safety and security of American families.

Macías Villamar is not just any criminal—he is a symbol of Biden’s failures on both the domestic and international stages. After being convicted of drug trafficking and sentenced to 34 years in prison, he escaped from a Guayaquil, Ecuador, prison in January 2024, a stunning demonstration of his brazen arrogance and disregard for the rule of law.

While behind bars, Fito operated like a king, hosting lavish parties complete with alcohol and cockfighting—all while the Ecuadorian government turned a blind eye. He even had the audacity to record a video message to the Ecuadorian people, flanked by armed men, showing just how little fear he had of law enforcement or government intervention.

Why was he allowed to escape so easily? Why wasn’t the Biden administration more proactive in working with Ecuador to secure this dangerous criminal? The answer lies in Biden’s indifference to border security and his refusal to confront transnational crime with the same intensity that Trump did.

The Los Choneros gang has been designated a terrorist organization by Ecuador, but Fito remains on the run, avoiding justice while his drug empire flourishes. The Ecuadorian government has offered a $1 million reward for information leading to his capture, but U.S. prosecutors admit that Fito is still evading them. Meanwhile, deadly drugs continue pouring into the United States, poisoning communities and fueling gang violence that affects innocent American lives.

If convicted, Fito could face 10 years to life in prison—but that’s only if he is ever captured and brought to justice. The DOJ’s inability to get him into custody is a glaring reminder of how Biden’s feckless leadership has weakened America’s resolve to combat international crime.

The real victims of Biden’s failures are the American families suffering from the opioid and cocaine crises that have skyrocketed since he took office. The Southern border crisis continues to fuel drug trafficking, and gang violence has spiraled out of control. Under President Trump, these gangs were pursued aggressively, and the border was fortified to keep dangerous individuals out.

But today, criminals like Fito operate with relative impunity, exploiting the weakness and indecisiveness of the Biden administration. Instead of taking meaningful action, Biden’s DOJ has been more focused on politically motivated investigations targeting Trump and his supporters.

The lesson here is clear: America needs strong leadership that prioritizes law and order, border security, and the relentless pursuit of dangerous criminals. President Trump’s America First agenda put safety and justice above political correctness, and his policies were designed to protect Americans from precisely this kind of threat.

If Biden continues to ignore the deadly realities of transnational crime, more families will suffer the consequences of failed policies and dangerous leniency. It’s time for America to restore Trump’s firm stance on crime and border security to ensure that vicious drug lords like Fito can never again terrorize communities on American soil.

The stakes couldn’t be higher, and the contrast couldn’t be clearer: Trump fought to protect Americans, while Biden’s weak policies leave us vulnerable to the world’s most dangerous criminals.